Diego Pacheco defeated unbeaten 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 taller. Pacheco had a slight edge using an effective jab over the aggressive Nelson. Nelson was cut on the left eyebrow in the fourth round’s final minute with a chopping right from Pacheco.
In the fifth round, Pacheco landed several lead rights on the chin. Nelson has stopped being the aggressor since the cut. In the sixth round’s final minute, Pacheco landed well against Nelson.
Nelson keeps coming forward in the seventh round, looking for the big shot against the taller Pacheco. In the eighth round, Pacheco landed numerous rights as the 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 outworked Nelson. Referee Allan Huggins walked Nelson to his corner, asking the ring physician 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 taking 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, keeping the power-punching Salcido from landing any big punches. In the third round, Cruz, with faster hands, gets to Salcido before he can get off.
Cruz rocked Salcido with a right on the chin in the fourth round at the bell. In a round, Salcido was doing better. Salcido showed a bruise under his right eye in the fifth round from Cruz’s power shots. Cruz continued using 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 had Salcido hurt and holding on at the bell. Cruz is now being trained by one of the best trainers in the world, Philadelphia’s Bozy Ennis. His improvement is evident.
Scores 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 Pedraza moved around a lot but threw few punches, as Mercado easily won both rounds. 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 on the back of his head, dropping Pedraza and having referee Robert Hoyle count him out. Mercado’s uncle won the previous fight.
Super Lightweight Leonardo Rubalcava, 9-0-1 (3), seemed fortunate to get a draw with Israel ’Bad Ways’ Mercado, 11-1-2 (7), over eight exciting rounds.
In the first round, Mercado rocked Rubalcava, who was looking to end it early, throwing bombs. Later, Rubalcava, what seemed like a knockdown, was ruled a slip by Referee Allan Huggins. He later scored a knockdown over Mercado. Mercado was looking good early but got hurt by Rubalcava. In the second round, the slugfest continued, with both throwing for a knockout. Mercado’s right eye began to close in a close round.
In the third round, the ‘war’ continued with both throwing big punches. Rubalcava suffered blood from the nose. In the fourth round, Mercado had a good round in this slugfest. Mercado seemed 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, being a little quicker with his hands. Both prospects have a lot on the line in an excellent fan fight.
Mercado lost a point for a low blow from Referee Allan Huggins in the seventh round. In the eighth and final round, the outstanding fight continued. Mercado had a good round.
Scores 76-74 Mercado, 75-75 and 75-75,
Lightweight ‘Dennis the Menace’ Harley Mederos, 8-0 (7), #134 ½, of Brooklyn, NY, impressed in 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, though, bleeding from the nose, Mederos continued overpowering a game de Isla.
In the third rounds halfway point a hard overhand right followed by a left hook from Mederos on the chin of de Isla dropping him causing Referee Raul Caiz, Jr. to wisely call an immediate halt.
2024 Olympian southpaw Super Welterweight Nishant Dev, 1-0 (1), impressed in 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 dropped Wiggins with a right on the chin for an 8-count from Referee Robert Hoyle. Wiggins got up, fighting back until he was dropped again by a vicious combination from Dev, causing referee Hoyle to wave it off immediately. Hailing from India, Dev is the first person from his country to be at this level, per 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 throughout the round. Between rounds, the corner of Garcia refused to allow him out due to an injured right elbow. The referee was Robert Hoyle.
The Ring Announcer was David Diamante.
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