A DISCIPLINED performance from Diego Pacheco helped secure a deserved unanimous decision over Steven Nelson last night.
Matchroom’s main event at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas was a relatively uneventful bout for 11 rounds until the final three minutes when Nelson let rip with some haymakers, which Pacheco, 23-0 (18 KOs), stood firm against.
Pacheco, the WBO number one contender, will have to keep risking his position until earning a world title shot – at current champion Canelo Alvarez – but against Nelson, 20-1 (16 KOs), there was little danger that placed any future big fight in doubt.
Nelson made his presence felt in the opening rounds, however, by harassing Pacheco but rarely had him troubled. Pacheco coasted through the first nine minutes, but his own lack of activity must be addressed if he is to face the likes of top-five contenders Christian Mbilli, Edgar Berlanga or the unified champion Canelo this year or next.
A cut to Nelson in the fourth did nothing to deter his own effort but Pacheco received some confidence and began taking the fight to his opponent. A whipping left hook from Pacheco scored beautifully in what was the punch of the contest by then.
Pacheco’s shots began to flow and improve and in the seventh he demonstrated his dominance by jolting Nelson with some uppercuts. In the next six minutes, Pacheco did what he had to keep the determined Nelson at bay, whose right hand lacked the pop needed to put a dent in the unbeaten 23-year-old.
With stirring speeches from trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre in between rounds Nelson emptied the tank in the 12th and thumped Pacheco with a number of heavy shots which may have troubled others. Pacheco’s chin passed a reasonable test so late in the fight. Nelson may regret not risking more in the first three rounds against a passive Pacheco who remains unbeaten.
“Wasn’t my best performance but I felt great. Went in there, boxed and did what I had to do to get the win,” Pacheco told DAZN’s Chris Mannix afterwards.
“He got a good chin,” he said of Nelson. “I hit him with some tough, tough shots that a lot of guys went down with but he stood 10-toes. I respect him for that.”
