Matchroom Comes to LA
Matchroom Boxing Comes to LA : Pacheco and Cruz Win
All photos by Al Applerose
Story by Uppercut Magazine staff
Diego Pacheco returned home to Los Angeles and slugged it out with Argentina’s Marcelo Coceres until an uppercut ended the fight and gave the hometown fighter a knockout win in their super middleweight fight on Saturday.
It was a brutal match until the end.
And Erika Cruz won the WBA female super bantamweight title over Mayerlin Rivas the champion. It was a momentous night.
Pacheco (20-0, 17 Kos) showed determination and a solid chin with his win over Coceres (32-6-1, 18 Kos) before a crowd of more than 1800 fans at the YouTube Theater on the Matchroom Boxing card.
It was Pacheco’s first time fighting in front of a hometown crowd in four years when he fought at the Staples Center in 2019 in a knockout win.
But Pacheco wasn’t given in early Christmas gifts and quickly discovered that Coceres had an iron chin, heavy hands and larceny in his heart. For several rounds the Argentine fighter clobbered the taller Pacheco with left hooks.
Pacheco took the blows with some surprise.
But after some tense moments Pacheco discovered the Argentine fighter’s style and it was downhill from there. Soon Pacheco was on the prowl and not looking to back up anymore. Blow after blow was pumped out by the local fighter who had been fighting all over the world. Now he was home and looking to return a victor.
In the ninth round both exchanged murderous blows with Pacheco connecting more than Coceres. Suddenly another exchange took place and Pacheco launched an almost invisible right uppercut that snapped the Argentine fighters head back and down he went for the count.
It was another knockout win and proof that Pacheco could take a big punch and knockout a fighter only stopped by world champion BJ Saunders.
Pacheco seems ready for the upper tier.
There was plenty of other action.
Former featherweight champion Erika Cruz defeated Mayerlin Rivas in a very strategic fight that was decided by majority decision to win the WBA super bantamweight title.
Diego Pacheco was in a pure firefight with Marcelo Coceres.
Pacheco used his length and power to keep Coceres from digging in.
After nine rounds Pacheco proved too strong and powerful even for Argentina's Coceres.
Diego Pacheco and promoter Eddie Hearn talk about keeping the L.A. native busy next year.
Erika Cruz battled a different style in facing world champion Mayerlin Rivas.
Rivas showed off her agility and counter punching skills.
Two judges favored Cruz aggressive style over Rivas counter-punching for a majority decision win and the WBA world title.
Former champion Khalid Yafai needed to see what he had left.
Jonathan Rodriguez knocked down Yafai twice in stopping the former champion in one round.
Crowds were excited about the Matchroom Boxing card featuring Diego Pacheco and company.
Among those in attendance were Mexico's top female fighter Kenia Enriquez in red along with her friend