LOS ANGELES – World-rated super middleweight Darius “DFG” Fulghum (15-1-1, 13 KOs) has never cruised smoothly on his obstacle-laden journey in boxing. Nothing has come easy for the personable Texan, but that could change on November 14 when he takes on undefeated Diego Pacheco (26-0, 19 KOs).
Fulghum, rated No. 6 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), continues on his mission to fight for a world title. An impressive victory over the WBA No. 7-rated Pacheco in a match up that is like a title eliminator without the mandatory guarantee, to be shown live on DAZN, TNT and truTV from Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Pacheco will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) International and World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver super middleweight titles in “The Fight” card’s 10-round main event.
“Life is about the need to overcome adversity and it can also be a beautiful story,” Fulghum spoke about his arduous and often unfair journey. No great stories are without trials and tribulations to overcome. When I decided to box when I was 18, I said I’d never give up and made that commitment to myself. Nothing’s been easy during my journey and it’s crazy how it has been.
“I lined up the 2020 Olympics and school (Prairie View A&M University) and overcame that. I was seeded 8th in the Olympic (heavyweight) Olympic Trials to make the Olympic Team, but then Covid hit.”
Believe it or not, Fulghum lacked confidence and was insecure growing up. He was not good at sports, but he was an intelligent kid in high school. But then he found boxing.
“I’m okay now,” Darius said. “I’m humble but believe in myself because of boxing. I did play team sports, but it lacked accountability. Boxing is you by yourself. I love that accountability aspect; if I won it’s me and when I lost it’s all on me. That taught me how to be a leader. I trust and believe in myself and always work hard.”
Because of Covid, the 2020 Olympics were pushed back. Fulghum had graduated from Prairie View with a degree in nursing and he decided to turn pro rather than wait for up-in-the-air Olympics. Unfortunately, the promotional company had him on the shelf most of the time before it went out of business.
“There was uncertainty,” Fulghum admitted about his new promoter. “I wasn’t fighting or making money while a lot of my friends from nursing school were killing it. I stayed focused and double downed, sparring top fighters in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. My first camp was with (Golden Boy and 3 PM stablemate) Zurdo Ramirez and that’s how I met (his manager) David Suh and got with 3 PM (Suh’s managerial company, 3 Point Management). I got good work, experience and kept busy.”
Adversity struck again, however, when Fulghum suffered his first loss in the pro ranks on May 30, 2025, by way of a tough 12-round loss to Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1), followed 5 months later with a 10-round draw with David Stevens (15-2).
Fulghum responded by switching his training camps from his hometown of Houston to Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood in California. His head trainer, Darnell Pierce, remains in that position but Julian Chua, one of the fastest rising trainers in the industry, is helping to fine-tune Fulghum. The first result was impressive as Darius stopped Cuban fighter Yoanki Urrutia in the 3rd round of their fight this past May.
“Los Angeles is great,” he offered, “the weather, atmosphere and to be surrounded by people who push and motivate me.”
Fulghum was a decorated amateur boxer who was ranked No. 1 in the USA as a heavyweight, but as a professional he’s fought strictly as a super middleweight. He was the 2018 National Golden Gloves Tournament Champion, and he also won the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
“This fight (vs. Pacheco) will make my story that much sweeter,” Fulghum concluded. “It’s also motivational because I’m going to prove that little, insecure kid made the right decision.”
Fulghum is working with 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers including former WBA & WBO Cruiserweight and WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs), WBA No. 1-rated world super flyweight title contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (17-1, 9 KOs), former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion, Canadian Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (13-1, 7 KOs), Armenian featherweight Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (23-6, 17 KOs), and German junior welterweight Simon “Saucy” Vollmer (7-0, 3 KOs).