Terrence Crawford is angling for a big super middleweight fight. But it’s his Omaha, NE teammate, Steven Nelson, who’s ready to take on the first big fight of the 2025 division.
An official involved in the deal told BoxingScene on Saturday that Nelson, 20-0 (16 KO), is expected to be announced this week as an opponent for top-ranked WBO contender Diego Pacheco 22-0 (18 KO). The competition, streamed by DAZN, will take place in Las Vegas on January 25.
Nelson is trained by Crawford’s cornerman. 2023 Trainer of the Year Brian “Bomac” McIntyre
“(Nelson) is strong, short and athletic, but Diego is good at distance. So the plan is to hurt (Nelson) and finish him off – it’s a good test,” said an official from Pacheco’s camp, speaking on condition of anonymity because Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has not officially announced the bout. Formal
The turn to the 36-year-old Nelson came after the 23-year-old Pacheco had previously spoken with Trevor McCambie, the competitor who lost to former 168-pound champion Caleb. Plant in September and with Christian Mbilli, the number one contender for the WBC-WBA.
The IBF wants Mbilli and Pacheco to fight to establish the number one contender for new super middleweight champion William Scull.
An official related to Mbilli told BoxingScene on Friday that Mbilli will not be available to fight Pacheco on January 25, but the meeting could happen in 2025.
But with all the moving parts of the super middleweight division, Therefore, it is difficult to predict how things will turn out. In which direction will it go? Knowing that three-belt champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez would need an opponent in his traditional Cinco de Mayo fight, Which will take place in 2025, will be on May 3rd.
Crawford, a four-division and reigning WBA junior-middleweight champion, aspires to capture Alvarez’s four-division title. But Mexicans resisted the idea. It also works with Crawford’s ally Turki Alalchik of Saudi Arabia.
As the top competitor Of the two sanctioned organizations, Mbilli is in a solid position for Alvarez, but he lacks serious name recognition.
Los Angeles-born Pacheco also has work to do to elevate his brand. His fight on January 25 will be his second DAZN main event after he defeated Masiej Sulecki by sixth-round knockout on August 31 in Carson City. California
Pacheco is trained by Jose Benavidez Sneer, who is in the corner of his son, interim WBC light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, who faces David More. WBA champion Rell is a “regular” in the Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view February 1 main event at Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
while training his son in Miami. As Pacheco works with four trainers aligned with Benavidez in Washington, Benavidez Sneer is expected to move camp to Vegas immediately after Christmas. and brought Pacheco from the Seattle area.
Expected to be in attendance is Benavidez’s son. Former title challenger Jose Benavidez Jr. will prepare for an undercard fight on February 1 along with lightweight Omar Salcido, 20-1 (14 KOs). which is expected to be announced as the opponent of Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz 4-0 (2 KO) also on January 25.
