Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KO) gave a late scare to Steven Nelson (20-1, 16 KO) but was able to survive to win a 12-round unanimous decision in the headliner on Dazn Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.
The fight showed that Pacheco can be broken with nonstop pressure at a rapid pace. Pacheco was fortunate that Nelson, 36, was an older fighter who lacked power because he would have collapsed if he could punch.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Nelson started quickly, using the activity to dominate the first three rounds. Pacheco took over with his punching and controlled from fourth to tenth against Nelson. Over the final two rounds, a bloodied Nelson looked like a new man, going after Pacheco, hitting him with big shots that had the 23-year-old.
The energy the 36-year-old Nelson showed in the 11th and 12th rounds was impressive. This is what he lacked in the middle part of the contest, where he gave the fight.
The scores
117-111
117-111
117-111