Recap: Pacheco Pounds Nelson In Decision Win

Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco of Los Angeles (23-0, 18 KOs) had to contend with a determined, tough-as-nails Steve “So Cold” Nelson of Omaha (20-1, 16 KOs), who forced him to fight smarter, not harder to score the decision victory Saturday in Las Vegas.

Diego Pacheco had to rely on his boxing skills when Steven Nelson wouldn’t go down so easily. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Scorecards were 117-111 across the board, with Nelson winning the early rounds until Pacheco sized him up, forced him back, and tested his chin and stamina.

It was a classic Pacheco fight. The 23-year-old is patient in early rounds and economical with his punches. The next thing his opponents realize, Pacheco is in range and firing power punches, breaking them down and setting them up for a late-round stoppage.

Pacheco admitted it wasn’t his best fight, but it was good enough. “Steven is a good fighter. It wasn’t one of my best performances, but I felt great. I went in there and boxed. I do what I have to do to get the win.

Steve Nelson weathered the storm of power shots from Diego Pacheco, forcing him to box smart to win by decision. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

“Stephen Nelson is a good fighter. He came to do his job. He’s got a good chin, I’m not gonna lie. I hit him with a lot of tough, tough shots that a lot of guys went down with. But he stood 10 toes up, and I respect him for that, man,” said Pacheco.

Nelson Hangs Tough, Proves He Belongs

Steven Nelson pressed the action early, forcing Diego Pacheco back and winning the early rounds. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Nelson came to boxing late. At 36 years old, he doesn’t have a lot of mileage on him. Training in Omaha with his best friend, Terence Crawford, he came to the fight in phenomenal condition. Nelson was on the front foot at the start of the fight, winning the early rounds to take advantage of Pacheco’s slow starts.

When Pacheco got into gear in the fourth round, he cut Nelson over the left eye with a hard right hook. The cut never got worse, but it bled throughout the fight, impaired his vision, and hampered his efforts.

Steve Nelson said he had a game plan for everything except getting cut. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

It was terrible timing for Nelson just as Pacheco hit his stride. Nelson did what he could to prevent Pacheco from using his reach by fighting inside, but Pacheco showed he could adjust by landing several impressive uppercuts. Nelson showed he’s got a granite chin.

Pacheco Takes Over, But Can’t Stop Nelson

The uppercut was a good tool for Diego Pacheco against Steven Nelson. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

In the later rounds, Pacheco pounded Nelson with hard right hooks, stepping up the pace. Nelson did what he could, but Pacheco’s offense took its toll, and Nelson’s punches were losing steam.

Give credit to Nelson for emptying the tank in the last two rounds. He needed a knockout to win and he never stopped coming, fighting right to the end willing to go out on his shield.

Nelson said when he suffered the cut in the fourth round, it threw off his game plan. “I prepared for everything, but I didn’t prepare to get cut,” said Nelson. “Everything he did, I knew he would do. I didn’t give in. I gave it 100 percent.”

“He was boxing and he was doing his thing. Coach Bomac (Brian McIntire) told me, ‘he’s starting to get the best of the fight,’ so I had to pick it up,” said Nelson.

Diego Pacheco celebrates with his daughter Divine Pacheco after winning his USWBC and WBO International super middleweight title fight on Saturday. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

“Stephen Nelson is a good fighter. He came to do his job. He’s got a good chin, I’m not gonna lie. I hit him with a lot of tough, tough shots that a lot of guys went down with. But he stood 10 toes up, and I respect him for that, man,” said Pacheco.

Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn said he recognizes, as does Pacheco, that a title fight is at best a year away. Until then, he pledged to match Pacheco with the best available opponents. Among the names mentioned was Edgar Berlanga of New York, who brings a Puerto Rican fan base with him.

Berlanga is expected to return in March for a fight in Puerto Rico. It seems an ideal matchup.

Nelson can walk away with his head high and with respect on his name. He proved he belongs among the contenders despite the loss.

“I’m still here, too, so I want to fight the big dogs. Diego is one of the best, and I went for the best. Years ago, I was supposed to be that guy, but things in my life slowed me down. But I’m back, though. I’m ready for anybody else.”

Cruz Cruises To Win Over Salcido

Andy Cruz took control and neutralized Omar Salcido’s offense to win by decision. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

In the co-main event, Cuban Olympic Gold medalist Andy Cruz (5-0, 2 KOs) delivered a solid performance against durable and game Omar Salcido of Lakeside, California (20-2, 14 KOs).

Salcido was willing to stand in front of Cruz, coming at the Cuban and cheered on by his Mexican fans ringside. Cruz has the skills to slip and counterpunch Salcido, throwing and landing far more punches than Salcido could deliver.

Cruz switched to a southpaw stance in the seventh round and found the target, rattling Salcido with a hard right to the head. Salcido recovered quickly and got back to business. His chin kept him in the fight when Cruz pushed hard in the final round to try and get the knockout.

Keyshawn Davis poses for a photo ringside at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Cruz landed 203 of 610 punches thrown (33%) against just 62 of 473 total punches for Salcido (13%). After the fight, he went looking for Keyshawn Davis in the audience. Cruz and Davis fought four times as amateurs. Cruz defeated Davis for the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. These lightweights are on a collision course, and we’re here for it.

Mercado Calls Out Shakur Stevenson After Stopping Pedraza

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado showed no mercy to veteran Jose Pedraza, punishing him for four rounds. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Junior welterweight prospect Ernesto “Tito” Mercado of Pomona, California (17-0, 16 KOs), makes his debut with Matchroom Boxing in emphatic fashion, pummeling former lightweight and junior lightweight titlist Jose “Sniper” Pedraza of Puerto Rico (29-7-1, 14 KOs) for four rounds, taking Pedraza out with a left hook to the temple off a stiff right jab.

Mercado said Pedraza was trying to come forward to wear him out. “He was getting closer. I wanted him to get a little comfortable, thinking he had his range down. Then, when he threw that shot, I knew he was going to reach, and I caught him. When I saw the perfect shot, I took him out.”

Tito Mercado is known for his body attack, but it was a right to the temple that got the job done. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

With champion Shakur Stevenson watching from the front row next to Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn, Mercado made his intentions clear.

“Vegas, all the haters right there man, it made it definitely worthwhile.” Asked about his future, Mercado pointed to Stevenson, who stood up and clapped back. “I want that punk right there, sitting in the blue sweatsuit. I want to light up that gap between his teeth,” said Mercado, who said he’s interested in all the champions, naming IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins. “I’m willing to whoop his ass first.”

Pedraza has seen better days, but the experienced veteran was expected to test Mercado for one last paycheck. It was not to be, and it’s likely Pedraza will retire.

Rubalcava and Mercado Brawl To Draw

The single point taken from Leonardo Rubalcava resulted in a majority draw with Israel Mercado. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Super lightweight Leonardo Rubalcava of California (9-0-1, 3 KOs) and Israel Mercado of California (11-1-2, 7 KOs) battled back and forth in their eight-round fight. Rubalcava was getting the better of Mercado in the early rounds, including a first-round knockdown. The knockdown was initially ruled a slip, but replay was used to correct the call under Nevada rules.

Mercado crawled back into the fight, and he got a hand from Rubacava, and he was docked a point in the seventh round for a low blow. It turned out to be the difference in a razor-close fight. Scores were 76-74 for Mercado and 75-75 on the remaining cards. Expect a rematch here.

Before the Bell Results: Dev, Moses, Mederos Win

Nishant Dev scored an impressive win in his pro debut against Alton Wiggins. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Former Team India Olympian Nishant Dev won his professional debut in Las Vegas with a splash for his fans watching in the early morning hours in India. Dev wasted little time unleashing power punches against Alton Wiggins of Modesto, California (1-1-1), scoring a knockdown and forcing a stoppage at 2:48 of the first round.

Nishant Dev knocks down Alton Wiggins during their middleweight fight on Saturday. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

“I was dreaming about this moment,” said Dev, whose debut came on the Republic Day holiday in India and his father’s birthday. “The road to becoming India’s first world champion begins today,” said Dev. “I feel like all India is behind me, and they’re happy to see me here. The gloves looked like hammers in my hands, it felt so good. I’m ready for my next fight.”

Zaquin Moses looked sharp in his single round against late replacement Mario Garcia. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Lightweight Zaquin Moses of Newark (2-0, 1 KO), the 19-year-old younger cousin of Shakur Stevenson, only needed a single round to get a TKO win over formerly undefeated Mario Garcia of Mexico (3-1, 3 KO).

After the first round, Garcia was forced to retire in the corner with what seemed like a serious and painful bicep injury. He was a replacement barely 24 hours before the fight.

“I wasn’t even warmed up yet,” said Moses. “I felt like the second round, I was going to stop him. I felt good. I’ve been working, I’ve been training. I live in the gym.” Moses thanked his brothers and extended family, including his cousin Shakur Stevenson, who came out from New Jersey to support him.

Harley Mederos won his first fight for Matchroom Boxing with a first-round TKO over Arturo de Isla. Photo: Melina Pizano/Matchroom

Undefeated lightweight Harley Mederos of Brooklyn (8-0, 7 KOs) needed three rounds to dispatch Arturo de Isla of Mexico (5-3-1, 4 KOs) in Mederos’ first fight since signing with Matchroom.

Mederos scored an impressive knockout after putting a hurt on De Isla, getting the win with the big one-two, the left hook dropping de Isla hard to the canvas. No count was needed.

“It was OK, there were a lot of things I could have worked on,” said Mederos. “I’m still a student in this game… the competition is only going to get better,” adding he’s learning to calm down and relax. “Once the shots started landing, everything started coming down.” Mederos said he would like to fight at home in New York in the near future.