INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On Saturday night at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco stopped ring veteran Marcelo Coceres with a powerful right uppercut to the head in the ninth round.
During the first seven rounds, Pacheco (21-0, 18 KOs) battled largely close to the body, landing right punches, uppercuts, and jabs when Marcelo Coceres (32-6-1, 18 KOs) got close.
Diego Pacheco would run to safety when Marcelo Coceres from Argentina moved forward, clinching instantly as he approached. Marcelo Coceres threw shots as though his eyes were closed, and his precision was nonexistent.
Pacheco had no inside game, a more experienced fighter would have taken advantage of all the clinching that Pacheco was doing.
“He’s a good role model, he’s a good ambassador, and he’s a future world champion for sure,” said Eddie Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom Sport.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Pacheco in media reports.
“When I headlined in the UK, it wasn’t even supposed to happen. It happened, and I stepped up to the plate, and I performed like I was supposed to,” he added.
“I went to Mexico and did the same thing. I did in my backyard, and it’s a dream come true. I couldn’t be more grateful for Matchroom that brought me to this point, and I’m ready to move forward and headline these big fights all around the world,” he continued.
“I feel like I’m one of the top guys in the division. 2024, I’m ready for whatever,” he added.
Coceres was forced to back up against the ropes at the end of the eighth round after Pacheco stunned him with a right to the head at the end. Coceres appeared to be on the verge of collapse after Pacheco delivered four forceful blows to the head.
Pacheco went for the kill in the ninth, sending Coceres reeling to the ropes with a powerful right hand to the head. After that, Pacheco landed with a powerful uppercut to the right, sending Conceres sprawling to the canvas as he slowly fell to the ropes.
Coceres has lost four of his previous six fights, including the one against Pacheco.
