Diego Pacheco chases his destiny in down-and-dirty L.A.

LOS ANGELES – The littered, potholed roads leading to the downtown gym don’t bother Diego Pacheco, who conquers the potential trouble magnificently by cruising into his parking spot driving a new Mercedes SUV.

Remember, Pacheco, 25, hails from an even more perilous spot than this after being raised by dedicated parents in South Central Los Angeles.

His approach to the down-and-dirty action of boxing is similar: Of course it’s gritty, but check out how I ride.

Possessing a 79-inch reach from a 6-feet-4 frame, Pacheco, 26-0 (19 KOs), will headline a DAZN card for the fifth time in as many events Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, when he meets WBA No. 4 contender Darius Fulghum, 15-1-1 (13 KOs).

The Mercedes in Pacheco’s boxing arsenal is his jab, a menacing tool that keeps foes at bay and scores points with judges while being masterfully tailored by his trainer, the Hall of Fame fighter Buddy McGirt.

While youthful exuberance could certainly sway Pacheco to prioritize knockouts over the more calculating requirements of the jab, McGirt is directing an athlete who learned as a young boy about the virtue of patience.

“You’ve got to explain the importance [of the jab], and then I ask him, ‘What is the first punch they teach you in boxing?’ The jab. There’s a reason they teach you. The jab can get you out of trouble, and if you don’t use it, it can get you in trouble,” McGirt said. “Look at Larry Holmes: heavyweight champion for 7½ years, and his biggest asset was his jab. You can do so much with the jab. Once you get the guy dancing to your beat, he’s done.”

Pacheco’s willingness is rooted in the fact he had to do without glitzy new items through his childhood.

“Being the child of immigrant parents who came here with nothing as teenagers, with no family, I witnessed their struggle and it molded me to who I’ve become,” Pacheco said.

“Seeing friends with new shoes, new gear, I knew I would only make my parents feel bad if I asked them for it, so in my mind, I knew that one day I’d be able to buy it myself and do all the things I wanted to do. It was just about being patient, waiting for my time.

“That put a chip on my shoulder – that I’d put them through all this for me to lose,” Pacheco said. “The pressure was on, and I rose to the occasion.

“My parents instilled in me a belief I could do whatever I wanted to do. I remember kids doubting me and my dad telling me, ‘Stay patient. Your time will come. Just stay consistent, put the work in.’ I did, and I’m here.”

McGirt is a daily witness to that dedication, repeating how Pacheco’s development had created a jab superior to that of all the 168lbs titleholders and top contenders in their 30s – Canelo Alvarez, Lester Martinez, Janibek Alimkhanuly and Jaime Munguia.

“The jab makes it hard on the opponent to get inside, but even if they get in, he can fight on the inside,” McGirt said. “So now you’re facing danger inside and outside, and as you’re trying to figure out how to get to him, the fight’s over. Keep them guessing. If it’s all jab, let the crowd boo. Get the ‘W.’"

Knowing his parents were taking on debt to finance his travel and entry fees for amateur boxing tournaments fueled Pacheco to win eight national tournaments. He lost only five fights in all – and four by split decision.

Fulghum, coming off a loss to WBA No. 1 contender Bektemirt Mulikuziev and a draw among his past three fights, believes his jab is as effective as Pacheco’s as he confronts this must-win bout.

Yet Pacheco – ranked No. 2 in the WBO as he awaits the Alimkhanuly-Jacob Bank title fight and No. 5 in the WBA while sitting behind the Munguia mandatory defense versus Mulikuziev – said he’s protective of his rising stature.

“Darius is a great fighter, dangerous and hungry as I am. Ready for whatever he brings,” Pacheco said. “Being paired with Buddy and watching the stuff we’ve been working on transfer to sparring is great. The jab’s one of my best punches, and we’re throwing it different ways, setting stuff up behind it. It’s a key.

“[Saturday] is everything to me. Without a win, we can forget about it. I’m ready to showcase my skills at the highest level, take care of business and go from there.”

Pacheco realizes the main event is an opportunity to emphasize that he’s primed for bigger fights. Last time out, Pacheco stopped Immanuwel Aleem in the 11th round, one fight after the unbeaten Martinez went the distance with Aleem.

“I always want to make a statement. Lester is a great fighter with a great fan base here in L.A., and a fight between us here in L.A. would be amazing,” Pacheco said. “I spoke briefly with [promoter] Eddie Hearn, seeing if we can get that fight, and he said it’d be an amazing fight to make at Crypto.com Arena, so hopefully [Martinez’s team] want to make that fight.”

McGirt, who previously trained former unified middleweight champion Alimkhanuly, said he would pick Pacheco to win if they fought.

McGirt and Hearn have reminded Pacheco time is on his side.

“A lot of the top guys are in their 30s. I’m 25. I feel I have enough time to get to them all,” Pacheco said. “I’ve looked at them and asked, ‘Who were these guys fighting at 25? Not the guys I’m fighting.’ I’m on a great pace and a great track.

“The main thing is we don’t want to just get there. We want to get there and take over and stay for years, and I feel I’m ready to take over the 168lbs division.”

Saying that, Pacheco glanced at the company of McGirt and the surroundings that others may find distasteful. Not Pacheco. Because unwashed L.A. is home.

“Being here reminds me of all the hard work I’ve put in. I love being here. A lot of the decisions I’ve made have been about wanting to be back here after training in Renton, Washington, for five years,” he said.

“I noticed my parents getting older, and wanted to come back. I felt it was time to be my own man. Building my name here, becoming the fighter I’m destined to be, that’s why I’m here.”