Young super middleweight contender, Diego Pacheco, overcame a slow start against veteran Steve Nelson to win a workmanlike 12 round decision by the scores of 117-111 across the board. It was a solid and steady effort from Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) who remained undefeated.
Pacheco is a long, lanky type, and because he's trained by the father of David Benavidez (Jose Sr.) there are natural comparisons that are made between the two. But while he does possess some of the same physical attributes, Pacheco really doesn't have the natural fluidity and ability to string together long combinations the way his older stablemate does.
But he does have solid power in both hands, and it looks like at age 23 that he is now gaining his man-strength. Pacheco is a solid puncher, but you still wonder about his whiskers and his overall speed and quickness. It wasn't a spectacular performance but one that is valuable in terms of adding seasoning to him as a fighter.
Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
“I feel like these are the fights that you learn from the most. When you have a guy in the ring with you that can take your punch and come back with his own as well, it really teaches you how to just find a way to win, and that’s what I had to do today. I really had to dig deep and show my skills and my heart," said Pacheco.
Eddie Hearn commented on his effort,“That was exactly what we wanted for Diego. It’s exactly what he needs. You know you’ve got to be fighting these tough guys with great chins, and Steven Nelson’s chin is unbelievable. He took so many big right hands that many others in the division wouldn’t.”
It's interesting to note that he is rated third by Ring Magazine at 168 given the fact that he's still far from being a finished product. But keep this in mind, this is a relatively shallow division outside of the recognized champion, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Roy Jones, Joe Calzaghe, Roy Jones and James Toney ain't walking through that door.
Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
The reality is that for whatever flaws Pacheco might have, the likes of Christian Mbilli, Caleb Plant, William Scull and Jaime Munguia are far from flawless in their own right.
But Pacheco does have time on his side.
THE UNDERCARD
Here's some quick takes on some of the other bouts that took place on this Matchroom Boxing card at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas...
- Ernesto 'Tito' Mercado took care of the faded Jose Pedraza in four rounds in what was his Matchroom Boxing debut. Mercado (17-0, 18 KOs) is a guy with length, reach and heavy hands. It will be interesting to see how fast he is moved up the ladder.
It seems that if it were up to him, he'd go right into the deep end of the pool. Although, he's campaigning as a junior lightweight, Mercado made it a point of calling out Shakur Stevenson, a three-division world champion who is currently the WBC lightweight titlist. Stevenson, who was ringside, reacted by telling Mercardo to stay away from his private parts.
https://x.com/DAZNBoxing/status/1883344878513586255
The way I see it, if the established champions -- such as Gervonta Davis -- aren't willing to face him, and ambitious, but green, boxers like Floyd Schofield and Mercardo are, why not?
- Speaking of lightweights, Andy Cruz remained undefeated by subduing the strong Omar Salcido over 10 rounds. The Cuban who came into this professional game with gold medals wrapped around his neck, looks like he has acclimated well to the professional ranks.
Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing
Despite just five bouts under his belt (5-0, 2 KOs), Cruz at age 29 with his amateur pedigree is on the fast track. You could see him fighting for a 135-pound title sooner rather than later. Which got me thinking, should he capture a belt, and then if his Olympic nemesis, defeats Denys Berinchyk in a few weeks, how 'bout a showdown between the two as professional world champions?
Or will we see the same professional politics get in the way of that?
THE MONSTER
Naoya Inoue did the expected as he dispatched the game but out-gunned Ye Joon Kim at the Ariake Arena in Japan. There's really not too much to say about this fight other than it was your typical performance from 'the Monster', who improved to 29-0 (26 KOs) by blasting out Kim in the fourth round.
Naoya Inoue's Reign Continues Against Ye Joon Kim | FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS
He was fast, quick, strong and powerful. Inoue also displayed his usual flair for the dramatic by halting Kim with a booming right hand. Basically every fight for him ends in a highlight reel-worthy KO. But the real buzz on this Friday was what was revealed after this latest conquest.
Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank
Bob Arum made it clear that 'the Monster' would be returning to the States in the spring. It's been widely reported that his opponent that night in Las Vegas will be David Picasso. Then later on Inoue stated that he would expand his horizons by boxing in Saudi Arabia later in 2025. There is also a chance that Inoue could be fighting three more times in 2025.
The names being mentioned alongside Picasso, our Murodjon 'MJ' Akhmadaliev (his WBA mandatory) and WBA featherweight champion, Nick Ball.
That would be a monster year.
