Diego Pacheco Beats Steven Nelson; Is Canelo Next?

January 26, 2025
3 weeks
Diego Pacheco Beats Steven Nelson; Is Canelo Next?

Diego Pacheco defeated Steven Nelson via a unanimous decision to give the latter his first defeat in their super middleweight clash.

The fight took place at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Nelson tried to push the pace early on, but neither fighter landed anything of note in the opener. Pacheco found some success in round two, connecting with an overhand right. However, Nelson returned fire with his own right when he had his man on the ropes. Pacheco began his range to avoid getting himself in a dog fight. Then, a right hand cut Nelson above his left eye in the fourth.

Another right and uppercut followed in the fifth as Pacheco was turning up the heat. Heading into the second half of the fight, Pacheco continued the momentum. Another punishing right hand caught Nelson and shook him in the tenth. Nelson was hurt but somehow managed to get out of the round. Nelson, though, rallied in the last round by buzzing Pacheco with a left hook. But Pacheco made it to the final bell to take a decision win: 117-111 on all three scorecards. The aim is to secure a world title shot this year. 

What’s Next?

“I feel that after putting on a great performance with Steven Nelson on January 25, I’ll be closer to fighting for a world title. Obviously, Canelo [Alvarez] has three of the belts, and [William] Scull has the other belt. Either one who’d like to give me the opportunity – that’d be amazing. Who will be the one that is going to give me the challenge? I don’t know, but hopefully, this year, I get to fight for a world title. I’m turning 24 this year and I think this is the right time. I feel that now I have amassed the strength. I’m more focused than ever, and I’m ready,” Pacheco stated 

“We are No. 1, we need to be called as mandatory to Canelo Alvarez. We are still probably 1-2 fights away [from being] ready for that level. That was a good test tonight, now we need one of those big names. Charlo, Plant, Berlanga, Munguia, Mbilli — that’s the next step,” Eddie Hearn 

“Man, I prepared for everything but I didn’t prepare to get cut,” said Nelson. “So when I felt the blood coming down and it got in my eye I started seeing yellow, I was like ‘aw damn’ and it just threw my whole gameplan off. That’s what it was,” Nelson said 

Full Card

Diego Pacheco defeated Steven Nelson by unanimous decision (117-111 on all three scorecards).

Andy Cruz won against Omar Salcido by unanimous decision (99-91, 98-92, 98-92).

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado stopped Jose Pedraza in the fourth round by TKO.

Leonardo Rubalcava and Israel Mercado fought to a majority draw (74-76, 75-75, 75-75).

Nishant Dev knocked out Alton Wiggins in the first round.

Harley Mederos stopped Arturo de Isla with a third-round KO.

Zaquin Moses won by first-round TKO after Mario Garcia suffered an injury.

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