Matchroom promote in Las Vegas this Saturday, and Diego Pacheco headlines at Cosmopolitan as he defends his WBC USA and WBO International super middleweight titles against fellow unbeaten Steven Nelson.
DAZN televise the Pacheco vs Nelson card live.
Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) is still only 23, but will hope to elevate his career to the next level this year.
The Californian based in Washington has impressed to date, and has passed each test that has come his way as he climbs the ladder as a professional.
Pacheco has defended his WBC USA title five times, and the WBO International strap four times, only going the distance on one occasion during that run.
That was against Shawn McCalman last April, where he won on points over ten rounds, but he was back to winning inside the distance last August knocking out Macej Sulecki with body shots in six rounds.
Terence Crawford stablemate Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) has been at ten round level for some time now, and steps up to championship level for the first time. The Nebraskan was last in action in August 2024, knocking out Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez in five rounds in Los Angeles.
Prediction: Pacheco can really show his intentions for the remainder of the year in this one, and I fancy him to wear Nelson down before winning in the later rounds.
Return of Andy Cruz
Former amateur starlet Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) sees action, and the Cuban is on a fast track to world honours. He should defend his IBF International lightweight title for a third time with a points win against Omar Salcido Gamez (20-1, 0 KOs).
😮💨 SLICK 💎 🇨🇺 Andy Cruz (4-0) is chasing a world title shot in 2025 starting with his Jan. 25 fight in Las Vegas against 🇲🇽 Omar Salcido (20-1). pic.twitter.com/AL4OVu03Hq
— EverythingBoxing (@EverythingBoxi2) December 30, 2024
Mercado steps up against Pedraza
The sole ten rounder comes at super lightweight, where Ernesto Mercado (16-0, 15 KOs) can enhance his credentials by defeating faded former world champion Jose Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs) inside the distance. Pedraza was stopped by Keyshawn Davis in his last bout.
Further undercard preview
The sole eight rounder is also at 140 pounds, and Leonardo Rubalcava (9-0, 3 KOs) can score a points win against Israel Mercado (11-1-1, 7 KOs).
In six rounders, Harley Mederos (7-0, 6 KOs) can win early against Arturo de Isla (5-2-1, 4 KOs) at lightweight, and debutant Nishant Dev can outscore Alton Wiggins (1-0-1, 0 KOs) in their super welterweight meeting,
In the only four round contest on the bill, Zaquin Moses (1-0, 0 KOs) can run out a points winner against Alex Pallette (1-3, 1 KOs) at super featherweight.
