Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) got a late scare from the surprising Steven Nelson (20-1, 16 KOs) but managed to win a 12-round unanimous decision in Saturday night's headliner on DAZN. Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas.

The fight showed that Pacheco can be broken down with nonstop pressure at a fast pace. Pacheco was lucky that Nelson, 36, was an older fighter who lacked power because he would have been separated if he had punched.

(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)

Nelson started quickly, using the action to dominate the first three rounds. Pacheco took over with his power punching and controlled Nelson from the fourth through the tenth. In the final two rounds, a bloodied Nelson looked like a new man, going after Pacheco and hitting him with big shots that kept the 23-year-old in check.

The power Nelson, 36, showed in the 11th and 12th rounds was impressive. It was absent from him in the middle part of the contest, where he gave away the fight.

score

117–111
117–111
117–111