Diego Pacheco is planning to kick-off a big 2025 in style when he defends his USWBC and WBO International super-middleweight titles against Steven Nelson at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on Saturday January 25, live worldwide on DAZN – with Cuban Olympic star Andy Cruz taking on Omar Salcido and Ernesto Mercado facing Jose Pedraza on his Matchroom debut.
Pacheco (22-0 18 KOs) is closing in on world title action as the #1 ranked contender with the WBO and sitting pretty at #3 in the WBC and #4 with the IBF. The LA star headlines for the sixth show in a row and for the second time in Las Vegas, where he saw off Shawn McCalman on points in April, before returning to his home turf in August to record his 18th win inside the distance with a sickening body shot KO win over Maciej Sulecki – performances that further bolstered his standing as one of the hottest talents in the game, which was confirmed by ESPN ranking Pacheco #2 in their list of the top fighters under 25, second only to pound-for-pound star and stablemate Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
The 23-year-old headlines the US portion of a boxing marathon on DAZN on Saturday night, which is led by Sheffield star Dalton Smith in Nottingham, England, before Pacheco once again finds himself in the spotlight, a place where he is feeling more and more at home.
“I love being on the first big fight night of the year for DAZN with this boxing marathon from the UK and Las Vegas,” said Pacheco. “I’ve been fighting for six years as a professional and I’m 22-0 and I’m 23 years old. I feel I’m stepping into my prime now without being afraid of taking on the biggest challenges. I hope fans enjoy watching DP 2025.”
“It excites me to look ahead to the next 12 months. I have a lot of hunger to keep working and keep preparing for these new challenges like the one on January 25. That’s basically it – just lock in and be ready for the new year and whatever challenge comes my way.
“I feel that after putting on a great performance with Steven Nelson on January 25, I’ll be closer to fighting for a world title. Obviously, Canelo [Alvarez] has three of the belts, and [William] Scull has the other belt. Either one who’d like to give me the opportunity – that’d be amazing. Who will be the one that is going to give me the challenge? I don’t know, but hopefully, this year, I get to fight for a world title. I’m turning 24 this year and I think this is the right time. I feel that now I have amassed the strength. I'm more focused than ever, and I’m ready.”
Pacheco’s clash with Nelson tops a stacked card in Las Vegas, where in the co-main event, Cuban Olympic Gold medalist Cruz takes on Salcido in a 10-round lightweight bout for the IBF International and WBA Continental Latin American titles. Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against former two-time world champion Pedraza in a 10-round super-lightweight bout.
Young Matchroom talent Leonardo Rubalcava facing Californian Israel Mercado in an eight-round super-lightweight contest. Additionally, newly signed Matchroom talent, Indian Olympian Nishant Dev, will make his professional debut, headlining the Before the Bell action, which also includes another Matchroom signing, Zaquin Moses, in his second professional bout, and unbeaten lightweight Harley Mederos, who will face Arturo de Isla in Mederos’ first fight since signing a promotional deal with Matchroom.
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