Diego Pacheco is set to kick off 2025 with high hopes as he defends his USWBC and WBO International super-middleweight titles against Steven Nelson at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on Saturday, January 25. The event will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN, featuring Cuban Olympic star Andy Cruz taking on Omar Salcido, and Ernesto Mercado facing Jose Pedraza on his Matchroom debut.
Pacheco, with an impressive record of 22 wins and 18 knockouts, is closing in on world title action, currently ranked as the #1 contender with the WBO, #3 with the WBC, and #4 with the IBF. The 23-year-old Los Angeles native is no stranger to headlines, having already headlined six shows consecutively, including two in Las Vegas. His previous outings were marked by dominance, including his point victory over Shawn McCalman last April and his electrifying body shot knockout against Maciej Sulecki, which marked his 18th win within the distance.
ESPN recently ranked Pacheco #2 among the top fighters under 25, just behind the acclaimed Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. With the January 25 bout, Pacheco notes, “I love being on the first big fight night of the year for DAZN with this boxing marathon from the UK and Las Vegas ... I’m stepping my prime now without being afraid of taking on the biggest challenges.”
He remains optimistic about his pursuit of world titles, stating, “I feel after the fight with Steven Nelson, I’ll be closer to fighting for a world title. I think this is the right time. I feel I’ve amassed the strength, I’m more focused than ever, and I’m ready.”
The Las Vegas card is stacked, with Cruz facing Salcido for IBF and WBA titles, and Mercado making his Matchroom debut against former two-time world champion Pedraza. Young talents will also feature, including Leonardo Rubalcava and the Indian Olympian Nishant Dev making his boxing debut.
Meanwhile, Lauren Price, the Tokyo 2020 champion, is preparing to defend her WBA welterweight title against Natasha Jonas at London's Royal Albert Hall this March. Price claims Jonas was initially reluctant to accept the fight, saying, “Natasha didn’t want this fight ... It’s been hard work and not on my end, but I’m glad it’s here.”
Despite the challenges, Price is dedicated to training hard and promises to bring her best to the fight. She confidently continues, “I’m training for the best Natasha Jonas and they’ll want a good camp. I think I’m the best in all areas.” Price is determined to prove herself once again, eyeing the potential of returning to Wales with her championship title post-fight.
On another front, Conor Benn has revealed serious discussions about facing Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title if his long-anticipated clash with Chris Eubank Jr. fell through. Benn, planning to step up two divisions to fight Eubank Jr. this April, had other options due to the fight's uncertainty.
Speaking on DAZN's Ariel x Ade: The Boxing Show, he stated, “After what I've been through for the past two-and-a-half years, for me to come back and win the WBC world title ... What a story [it would have been]. I know everybody wants this fight [with Eubank], but Barrios was serious; it was the fight I wanted.”
Preparing for Eubank Jr. seems to be the priority for Benn, who wishes to deliver excitement to his supporters. “I know the supporters want this fight, and I felt like I really wanted to give the supporters the Eubank fight.”
Lastly, boxing is seeing new talent emerge as two-time Haringey Box Cup winner Adedeji Adegbola has signed professional terms with Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions. Adegbola, who has nearly 60 amateur fights to his name, expressed excitement about making his pro debut with Warren's renowned stable of heavyweights.
“I came to the UK to box because it did not make sense to go pro back home,” Adegbola elaborated, underscoring his commitment to making waves in professional boxing. Warren expressed his belief in Adegbola's potential, stating, “I believe we are about to unload another very special talent.”
With Pacheco, Price, Benn, and Adegbola all gearing up for significant fights and career shifts, DAZN continues to serve as the go-to platform, broadcasting over 150 boxing bouts annually. Fans can catch the latest events and forthcoming matches on DAZN, reinforcing its standing as the heart of the boxing world.