Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco hopes to turn things around with a victory over Stevens. Nelson this Saturday is set to be a championship fight.
Pacheco – ranked #1 by the WBO, #3 by the WBA and #6 by the IBF – will Meet Nelson at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas this Saturday in Round 12 as scheduled.
“I feel that after such a great performance with Steven, Nelson on January 25th, I will be closer to fighting for the world title,” Pacheco said. “Obviously Canelo has three belts and (William) Scull has another (IBF) belt, whoever. who want to give me a chance That would be amazing. Who will give me the challenge? I don’t know, but hopefully this year I’ll fight for the world title. I will be 24 years old this year and I think this is the right time. I feel like I’ve gathered strength now. I’m more focused than ever. And I’m ready.”
Born in Los Angeles and fighting from Renton, Washington, Pacheco picked up two wins in 2024 over previously undefeated Shawn McCulman. He was better with more than 10 points and Mazyj Zulecki, whom he stopped in six.
“It makes me excited to look ahead to the next 12 months,” Pacheco added. “I have a huge hunger to continue working and prepare for these new challenges like the one we had on January 25th. I know Steven. Nelson from being one of Terrence Crawford’s fighters, I know he’s from Omaha, Nebraska and he’s 36. That’s a lot, to me he’s just a match. Fight another person I’ll come in and knock him out. Having a pound-for-pound fighter like Crawford on your side is always a good thing. But he couldn’t go and fight for him. He can be a good cheerleader on the sidelines. But that is pretty much it.”
Pacheco felt Nelson’s boxing experience came on the August draft led by Crawford-Israel Madrimov – when Nelson stopped Marcos Vazquez Road. Rodriguez – will stand him in good stead ahead of Saturday’s main event.
“I feel like the Crawford-Madrimov pay-per-view was a great experience for him. And maybe that feeling of confidence makes him think he’s ready for someone like me.” But on January 25, he’ll have a big surprise. And he will find that he is not ready to face someone like me. He has never been in the ring with a fighter like me.”
