Super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco will get his 2025 going early with a January 25 DAZN main event against Steven Nelson from Las Vegas, and the 24-year-old is hoping this is the year where he’ll get his first world title fight.
“I feel that after putting on a great performance with Steven Nelson, I’ll be closer to fighting for a world title,” Pacheco said at his media workout.
“Obviously, Canelo 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 (22-0, 18 KO) last fought on Aug. 31, stopping veteran Maciej Sulecki in the sixth round, and also beat Shawn McCalman in April of last year.
The 36-year-old Nelson (20-0, 16 KO) is also undefeated, but in a much different sort of position in many ways. His age, obviously, means he’s no “prospect,” and it’s also seemed clear for years that the Terence Crawford-backed Omaha native has been more of a part-time pro fighter, usually fighting overmatched opponents and rarely fighting on anything but a Crawford undercard. He didn’t fight at all in 2021, then just once each in 2022-24, all on Crawford shows.
Nelson does have some talent, though, and Pacheco can’t afford to ignore the threat he does pose, which includes some punching power. While on paper Nelson is more of a fringe contender, that’s for people who aren’t in the ring with him to think, and Pacheco will need to focus and impress, especially if he really wants that title shot this year.
More from Pacheco’s media workout
On plans for 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. That’s basically it, just lock in and be ready for the new year and whatever challenge comes my way.”
On Steven Nelson: “I know Steven Nelson from being one of Terence Crawford’s fighters. I know he’s from Omaha, Nebraska, and that he is 36 years old. That’s pretty much it. For me, he’s just another opponent. I’m coming in to knock him out.”
On how it feels to fight someone backed by Terence Crawford: “It makes it a fun fight. Having a top pound-for-pound fighter like Crawford in your corner is always a good thing, but he can’t get in there and fight for him. He can be a good cheerleader on the sidelines, but that is pretty much it.”
On Nelson’s experience on big shows: “I feel that the Crawford-Madrimov pay-per-view was a great experience for him, and maybe that sense of confidence made him think that he was ready for someone like me. He’s going to have a big surprise, and he’s going to find out he’s not ready to face someone like me. He’s never been in the ring with a fighter like me.”