Diego Pacheco is brimming with confidence ahead of his super middleweight showdown with Steven Nelson this Saturday in Las Vegas. Fresh off a stoppage victory over Maciej Sulecki, the 23-year-old Pacheco believes a statement performance will bring him one step closer to a world title opportunity. The Los Angeles native has set his sights on either the division’s main champion, Canelo Alvarez, or William Scull - the holder of the remaining belt.
Pacheco stands tall at 6’4” and hasn’t shied away from talking about his power. Despite Nelson being guided by pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, Pacheco points out that Crawford can’t step into the ring for his fighter. “He can be a good cheerleader on the side,” Pacheco told The Ring, “but that’s pretty much it.” Nelson, 36, has enough punching power of his own, and many fans see this as a dark-horse fight that could deliver plenty of excitement.
What makes this matchup especially compelling is both men’s unbeaten records. Pacheco’s youth and height advantage meet Nelson’s experience and savvy. With 18 knockouts in 22 fights, Pacheco is considered one of the division’s rising finishers. Meanwhile, Nelson, known as “So Cold,” also boasts an impressive stoppage rate - making a knockout finish highly likely on Saturday.
All signs point to a battle that could steal the show. Pacheco may be looking ahead to marquee names, but he knows Nelson can’t be overlooked. If he wants that big shot at 168, Pacheco will need to handle business convincingly against Nelson.
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