Diego Pacheco displayed both poise and power in his 12-round unanimous decision victory over Steven Nelson last Saturday. Despite weathering a slow start, the 23-year-old found his rhythm in the middle rounds, ultimately doing enough to earn the judges’ nod. With the win, Pacheco is now setting his sights on a matchup against New York’s Edgar Berlanga.
Berlanga wasted no time calling out Pacheco on social media, claiming he would deliver both "a big payday" and "a big ass whooping." Pacheco didn’t hesitate in his response, inviting Berlanga to "run it next," which delighted promoter Eddie Hearn, who handles both fighters. "It’s music to our ears," Hearn said, emphasizing how far Pacheco’s reputation has come - a major difference from when fighters seemed unaware of his name.
Watch Pacheco vs. Nelson highlights: Watch
Pacheco's trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., expected increased attention if his young charge didn’t score a knockout, and he was proven right. Benavidez praised Pacheco’s ability to adjust against a seasoned foe like Nelson, yet he remains skeptical about a future fight with unified champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. "Canelo would never take a fight with Diego Pacheco," he said, recalling how his other fighter, David Benavidez, was similarly shunned.
Still, Pacheco is perfectly positioned as the WBO’s No. 1 contender, which could open doors to bigger fights.
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