Diego Pacheco looks to continue his progress in boxing when he faces Steven Nelson on January 25. The fight in Las Vegas airs on DAZN worldwide.
An eight-time National Champion, Pacheco (22-0) has quickly climbed up the ranks at super middleweight. He is ranked number one by the WBO, third in the WBC rankings, and sixth in the IBF rankings. Headlining this weekend, the 23-year-old is ready to show he is a true force at 168 lbs.
“I definitely can win and feel like ever since I was 10 years old, I’ve been training hard nonstop, never taking any breaks. Boxing is my passion and I have the talent, the physical attributes combined with my hard work,” Pacheco said.
WATCH: Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson, live on DAZN
“It’s a given for me to be here and something I’ve dreamed about as a kid to be headlining events, and now I’m here. It’s a dream come true, and I’m not letting up and backing down from nobody. I made my other opponents look easy when I won, and this is going to be a great fight on Saturday.”
Nelson (20-0) has only competed three times from 2022 to 2024 after fighting twice in 2020. The 36-year-old Golden Gloves champion has 16 wins via knockout.
Top prospects look to impress on the Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson undercard, while a veteran tries to cause a massive upset.
Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Pacheco vs. Nelson card.
Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido Gamez
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Cruz record: 4-0
- Gamez record: 20-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
The co-feature will see Andy Cruz vs. Omar Salcido Gamez.
Cruz (4-0) was an acclaimed amateur star with over 12 gold medals, taking gold in the 2020 Olympics. The 29-year-old Cuban went 3-0 in 2024 and looks to continue his momentum in 2025.
Gamez (20-1) is on a two-fight win streak, taking out former top prospect Chris Colbert in his last contest. The 25-year-old has 14 wins via knockout.
Ernesto Mercado vs. Jose Pedraza
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Mercado record: 16-0
- Pedraza record: 29-6-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Ernesto Mercado faces Jose Pedraza.
A 2023 Prospect of the Year candidate, ranked eighth in SN’s 25 Under 25, Mercado (16-0) went 3-0 in 2024 after going 5-0 in 2023. The 23-year-old has won all but one fight via knockout.
MORE: Ranking the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world
A 2009 World Championships silver medalist, Pedraza (29-6-1) won the IBF super featherweight title in 2015. He won the WBO lightweight title in 2018 but lost it in his next fight against Vasiliy Lomachenko. Pedraza is 1-3-1 in his last five fights, his most recent win being in 2021.
Leonardo Rubalcava vs. Israel Mercado
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Rubalcava record: 9-0
- Mercado record: 11-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Leonardo Rubalcava faces Israel Mercado.
Rubalcava (9-0) recently signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing. He won five fights in 2024 after turning pro in 2023 and has three wins via knockout.
Mercado (11-1-1) is on a three-fight unbeaten streak, going 2-1-1 in his last four fights. “Bad Ways” has seven wins via knockout.
Harley Mederos vs. Arturo de Isla
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Mederos record: 7-0
- de Isla record: 5-2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Harley Mederos vs. Arturo de Isla.
A multi-time National Championships winner, Mederos (7-0) has won five straight contests via knockout.
de Isla (5-2-1) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights. He has won all but one contest via knockout.
Nishant Dev vs. Alton Wiggins
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Dev record: N/A
- Wiggins record: 1-0-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Nishant Dev faces Alton Wiggins.
A 2023 World Championships bronze medalist and 2024 Olympian, Dev turns pro after signing a deal with Matchroom Boxing. The 24-year-old is aiming to become India’s first boxing world champion.
MORE: Tyson Fury retires – again: Will Gypsy King stick to his word this time?
Wiggins (1-0-1) won his last fight after almost two years away from the ring.
Zaquin Moses vs. Alex Pallette
- Division/Weight: Super Featherweight
- Moses record: 1-0
- Pallette record: 1-3
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Zaquin Moses faces Alex Pallette.
A three-time National Campion, Moses (1-0) turned pro last year. He is the cousin of Shakur Stevenson and was one of the last fighters to beat top prospect Curmel Moton in the amateurs.
Pallette (1-3) is on a three-fight losing streak after starting 2024 with a win.
Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, January 25
- Time: 8 p.m. ET | 5 p.m. PT | 1 a.m. GMT | 12 p.m. AEDT
- Location: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom – Las Vegas
- Main event start time (approx.): 10:30 p..m ET | 7:30 p.m. PT | 3:30 a.m. GMT | 2:30 p.m. AEDT
- Live Stream: DAZN
Diego Pacheco vs. Steven Nelson will be available on DAZN in the U.S. A DAZN monthly subscription is $19.99 on a 12-month contract or $24.99 month-to-month, and an annual subscription is $224.99.
