Diego Pacheco defeated undefeated WBA Continental Americas Super Middle Champion Steven Nelson over 12 rounds on Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas, Nevada. In the co-main event, IBF International Lightweight Champ Andy Cruz easily defeated Omar ‘Super’ Salcido by a 10-round unanimous decision.
(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)
Pacheco, 23-0 (18) beat ‘So Cold’ Nelson, 20-1 (15) by a 12-round unanimous decision.
In the first three rounds the fight was closer and louder. Pacheco had a slight edge using an effective jab over the aggressive Nelson. Nelson was cut on the left eyebrow in the fourth round last minute with a straight hook from Pacheco.
In the fifth round, Pacheco landed several lead rights to the chin. Nelson has stopped being the aggressor since the clip. In the last minute of the sixth round, Pacheco landed well against Nelson.
Nelson continues to come forward in the seventh round looking for the big shot against the taller Pacheco. In the eighth round, Pacheco landed several rights as blood continued down the side of Nelson’s face.
In the ninth round, Pacheco landed good left hooks on Nelson’s chin. In the tenth round, Pacheco overworked Nelson. Referee Allan Huggins walked Nelson to his corner and asked the ring physio to check the cut.
Nelson had a good round in the eleventh round trying to overcome Pacheco’s lead. Nelson showed determination in the twelfth and final round, trying to land the big punch that took the round.
Scores were 117-111, 117-111 and 117-111.
Andy Cruz, 5-0 (2), defeated Omar ‘Super’ Salcido, 20-2 (14) by a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBA continental title.
Cruz used an effective jab in the first two rounds and kept the power-punching Salcido from landing any big punches. In the third round, Cruz lands faster hands on Salcido before he can get off.
Cruz rocked Salcido with a right to the chin in the fourth round at the bell. In one round, Salcido did better. Salcido showed a bruise under his right eye in the fifth round from Cruz’s Power Shots. Cruz continued to use an effective jab in the sixth round, taking another round from Salcido.
In the seventh round, both had their moments as Cruz had the edge, with Cruz switching to Southpaw and back. In the eighth round, Cruz rocked the hard-hitting Salcido several times.
In the final minute of the ninth round, Cruz rocked Salcido. In the tenth and final round, Cruz got Salcido hurt and held on at the bell. Cruz is now trained by one of the best trainers in the world, Philadelphia’s Bozy Ennis. His improvement is evident.
Results 99-91, 98-92 and 98-92.
The referee was Raul Caiz, Jr.
Super lightweight Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado, 17-0 (16) impressed, stopping former IBF Super Featherweight and WBO Lightweight Champion ‘The Sniper’ Jose Pedraza, 29-6-1 (14) at 2:08 of the fourth round of a Scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first two rounds, the former champion moved Pedraza around a lot but threw few punches as Mercado won both rounds easily. Mercado moved well and countered in the third round with Pedraza on the receiving end of his punches.
In the fourth round, Mercado landed a left followed by a right to the back of the head, dropping Pedraza and having referee Robert Hoyle count him out. Mercado’s uncle won the previous match.
Super lightweight Leonardo Rubalcava, 9-0-1 (3), looked lucky to get a draw with Israel ‘Bad Ways’ Mercado, 11-1-2 (7), over eight exciting rounds.
In the first round, Mercado rocked Rubalcava, looking to end it early and throw bombs. Later, what appeared to be a knockdown, Rubalcava was ruled a slip by referee Allan Huggins. He later scored a knockdown over Mercado. Mercado looked good early but was hurt by Rubalcava. In the second round, Slugfest continued with both thrown for a knockout. Mercado’s right eye began to close in a tight round.
In the third round the ‘war’ continued with both throwing big punches. Rubalcava was bleeding from the nose. In the fourth round, Mercado had a good round in this Slugfest. Mercado looked to land hard punches to the body and chin in the fifth round. Rubalcava comes back, but not enough to win the round.
Mercado had another good round in the sixth round as he was a little quicker with his hands. Both prospects have a lot on the line in an excellent fan match.
Mercado lost a point for a low blow from referee Allan Huggins in the seventh round. In the eighth and final round, the excellent fight continued. Mercado had a good round.
Results 76-74 Mercado, 75-75 and 75-75,
Lightweight ‘Dennis The Menace’ Harley Mederos, 8-0 (7), #134 ½, of Brooklyn, NY, impressed by stopping Arturo de Isla, 5-3-1 (4) at 1:27 of the third round of a Scheduled six rounds.
In the first round, Mederos landed a left hook to the chin of De Isla looking for an early stoppage. In the second round, however, bleeding from the nose continued to dominate a game de Isla.
In the third round, halfway through, a hard overhand right followed by a left hook from Mederos on the chin of de Isla drops him, causing referee Raul Caiz, Jr. to call an immediate stop.
2024 Olympian Southpaw Super Welterweight Nishant Dev, 1-0 (1), impressed by stopping Southpaw Alton Wiggins, 1-1-1) at 2:48 of the first round of a scheduled six rounds.
At the first round halfway point, Dev Wiggins fell with a right to the chin for an 8 count from referee Robert Hoyle. Wiggins got up and fought back until he was dropped again by a vicious combination from Dev, prompting referee Hoyle to wave it off immediately. Dev from India is the first person from his country to be at this level, as of Promoter Hearn.
Super Featherweight Southpaw Zaquin ‘Zaybop’ Moses, 2-0 (1), stopped Mario Garcia, 0-1) at the end of the first round of a scheduled four rounds.
In the first round it was all Southpaw. Moses had Garcia on the receiving end for the entire round. Between rounds, Garcia’s corner refused to allow him due to an injured right elbow. The referee was Robert Hoyle.
The ring announcer was David Diamante.