Diego Pacheco fails to assert himself as talent pool deepens at 168lbs

There was every reason to employ his jab, set up power shots and display everything else that previously moved Diego Pacheco to being a No. 1 super middleweight contender.

But at 24, the growing pains being endured by the South Central Los Angeles product are still in play, as seen by his frustrating unanimous decision victory Saturday night over Kevin Lele Sadjo, in which Pacheco was dropped once and saw his stock drop.

“It makes you wonder,” ProBox TV analyst Paulie Malignaggi said on Monday’s episode of “BoxingScene Today.”

Pacheco, now 25-0 (18 KOs), recorded the victory in a DAZN main event in Stockton, California, but his division is providing openings for advancement given the September dethroning of undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez and the belt-dumping of Terence Crawford.

It’s not certain Pacheco can seize the day.

Host Jimmy Smith called Pacheco’s appearance “lazy, lethargic and lackadaisical” after the fighter previously went the distance with Steven Nelson one fight before Nelson was knocked out in the first round.

Pacheco switched trainers from Jose Benavidez Snr to Omar Valenzuela. He faced a shorter, aggressive scrapper in Sadjo, now 26-1 (23 KOs), but Pacheco performed without a useful jab. This proved a hellish combination for Pacheco, who prevailed by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 115-112.

“Wrong opponent, wrong type of fight,” given the circumstances, said returning Trainer of the Year winner Robert Garcia. “In that pressure, in that moment, he got confused.”

Calling Sadjo a “light” version of top-ranked 168lbs contender Christian Mbilli, Malignaggi said the bout should have provided an incentive for Pacheco to develop his jab and smarten up his opponent choice, even as top-ranked contender Hamzah Sheeraz has called him out.

A better choice, Garcia said, would be a fading veteran like Jaime Munguia, Caleb Plant or Edgar Berlanga.

“I would prefer he take one or two more fights before going to the big stage,” Malignaggi said.

“He needs to fight someone with a bigger name,” Garcia added.

Sheeraz, coming off a knockout of Berlanga, “is ascending,” Malignaggi said.

The division also includes Mbilli and unbeaten Lester Martinez, who combined for a fight-of-the-year worthy event in September.

Malignaggi said Alvarez’s loss of the belts has enlivened the weight division.

“There’s lots of guys popping up,” Malignaggi said.

Missing his chance to do so Saturday, Pacheco has to rethink his development and progression.