Diego Pacheco vs Steven Nelson Preview January 25th, 2025
Unbeaten Diego Pacheco of Los Angeles, California takes on undefeated Steven Nelson of Omaha, Nebraska this Saturday, January 25th. The 12-round super middleweight fight from Las Vegas, Nevada t can be seen live in most nations on DAZN with Pacheco defending his WBO International and WBC USA Super Middleweight Titles. He last fought in August when he stopped Maciej Sulecki in the sixth round. Nelson was last in the ring in August as well when he halted Marcos Vazquez Rodriguez in the fifth round.
Pacheco vs Nelson Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Steven Nelson +275
- Diego Pacheco -375
My Pick
Pacheco is just 23 years old and already owns a perfect record of 22-0 with 18 Ko’s and has boxed 92 rounds since making his pro debut in 2019. He enjoyed a fine amateur career as he made it to the quarterfinals of the 2017 USA Youth National Championships and 2018 World Youth Championships, won the 2018 USA Youth Open and reached the final of the 2018 USA Western Regional Final and the semifinals of the 2017 USA Jr Olympics.
Pacheco possesses an abundance of power in his punches with a current knockout ratio of 81.8 per cent and had won nine fights in a row by stoppage until Shawn McCalman took him the 10-round distance last April. His biggest pro wins to date have come over Sulecki, Manuel Coceres, Manuel Gallegos, Jack Cullen, Oscar Riojas, Juan Antonio Mendez, Rodolfo Gomez Jr, Lucas de Abreu, Raul Ortega and Enrique Collazo.
Just one of his 22 opponents entered the ring with a losing record. Pacheco won the vacant WBC USA Super Middleweight Belt in September, 2022 when he stopped Enrique Collazo in the fifth round and captured the vacant WBO International Belt with his fourth-round TKO over Cullen in March, 2023. At 6-feet-4-inches tall Pacheco’s got great height for a super middleweight and also owns a 79-inch reach.
The 36-year-old Nelson is entering the contest with a perfect mark of 20-0 with 16 Ko’s to his name. He’s fought just 84 rounds since his pro debut in 2016. As an amateur he made it to the 2012 USA National Championships Final where he was beaten on points by Marcus Browne. He also fought in the 2013 National Championships and won the 2013 National Golden Gloves. Nelson then competed at the 2013 World Golden Gloves and the 2014 US National PAL Championships Final before fighting in the World Series of Boxing.
Nelson measures 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 75.5-inch reach so gives up six inches in height and 3.5-inches in reach to Pacheco. He also carries plenty of power in his punches as 80 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage, including six of his last seven. He captured the vacant WBO NABO Super Middleweight Belt in 2020 by stopping Cem Kilic in the eighth round. Nelso also has wins over James Ballard, DeAndre Ware, Rowdy Legend Montgomery, Oscar Riojas and Derrick Findley. He’s faced some solid pros over the years but hasn’t taken on any legitimate contenders as of yet.
Prediction…
Pacheco has the size of a heavyweight and a ton of power in his fists which makes him a great prospect as a super middleweight for as long as he can make the weight. Nelson is a solid pro who is also unbeaten and carries plenty of power. However he is 13 years older than Pacheco and gives up a lot of height and reach. Still, he’ll be a tough test for Pacheco and can’t be taken lightly. Pacheco’s physical advantages should enable him to nail Nelson when he works his way inside and while the fight could go the distance I’m expecting Pacheco to remain unbeaten with his 23rd consecutive victory Saturday night.
Pacheco’s size and youthfulness are the difference here.
Play Pacheco -375 @ BetOnline.ag
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Diego Pacheco betting • Steven Nelson betting