Pacheco vs. Nelson

Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson:
Pacheco wins by UD.

Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido Gamez:
Cruz wins by UD.

Ernesto Mercado vs. Jose Pedraza:
Mercado wins by TKO in the 4th round.

Leonardo Rubalcava vs. Israel Mercado:
Draw by MD.

Nishant Dev vs. Alton Wiggins:
Dev wins by TKO in the 1st round.

Harley Mederos vs. Arturo de Isla:
Mederos wins by KO in the 3rd round.

Zaquin Moses vs. Mario Garcia:
Moses wins by RTD in the 1st round.

A super middleweight clash is set in Las Vegas, as Diego Pacheco squares off against Steven Nelson. Pacheco, who is just 23 years old and stands a towering 6’4”, has steadily climbed the division’s rankings, and this matchup could nudge him even closer to a world title shot. With Pacheco ranked #1 WBO, #3 WBC, and #4 IBF, a big win here might solidify his place among the 168-pound elite.

Nelson, currently #13 WBO, presents a respectable test, albeit one that some observers feel is overdue. At 36 years old, Nelson turned pro in 2015, but he's struggled to secure meaningful fights that would propel him into broader contention. He's known among hardcore fans, but victories over fringe-level opposition have yet to prove he's a genuine threat to the top names in the division.

Pacheco is gunning for bigger opportunities, and the ultimate goal is a shot at a top champion. Standing at the summit of the super middleweight division is Canelo Alvarez, holding multiple belts and commanding the most lucrative matchups. A statement win over Nelson could move Pacheco one step closer to a showdown that would define his career.

Watch Pacheco vs. Sulecki: Watch

Nelson’s age and relative inactivity may play into Pacheco's hands. Even so, boxing is full of surprises, and Nelson’s experience and hunger shouldn't be dismissed. If Nelson has saved his best performance for this moment, he could force a highly regarded contender like Pacheco to dig deeper than ever before.

On the same bill, rising Cuban star Andy Cruz (4-0, 2 KOs) aims to accelerate his journey into the lightweight elite by battling Mexico’s Omar Salcido Gamez (20-1, 14 KOs). Cruz’s technical skill and amateur pedigree have made him one of the sport’s most talked-about newcomers, while Salcido Gamez enters on a high after stopping Chris Colbert.

Main card:

▪️Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson, 12 rounds, for Pacheco’s WBC USA and WBO International super middleweight titles
▪️Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido, 10 rounds, for Cruz’s IBF International and WBA Continental Latin America lightweight titles
▪️Ernesto Mercado vs. Jose Pedraza, 10 rounds, welterweight
▪️Leonardo Rubalcava vs. Israel Mercado, 8 rounds, super lightweight

Prelims (Starts at 6 pm ET):

▪️Nishant Dev vs. Alton Wiggins, 6 rounds, middleweight
▪️Harley Mederos vs. Arturo de Isla, 6 rounds, lightweight
▪️Zaquin Moses vs. Alex Pallette, 4 rounds, super featherweight

Watch prelims fights live here: Watch