It’s been a year filled with showcase fights around the world for Diego Pacheco, but the next one will be the most significant one to date for the Los Angeles born-and-bred boxer.
Pacheco (19-0, 16 KOs) will take another serious step up in competition when he challenges rugged Argentinian veteran Marcelo Esteban Coceres (32-5-1) in a 10-round super middleweight fight at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California on Saturday night.
Pacheco was raised near Manchester Avenue and South Broadway in South Central LA, located roughly 15 minutes away from where he’ll be headlining a Matchroom Boxing event that will be streamed on DAZN.
The YouTube Theater is located on the lot of SoFi Stadium, home to the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.
“I’ve been excited that I would be fighting in my hometown of Los Angeles from the minute the fight was announced,” Pacheco told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “To be back headlining my own show is a dream come true. I’m very excited. I’m super grateful for this opportunity and ready to put on a show.”
The Mexican-American Pacheco made his United States debut in 2019 at The Kia Forum in Inglewood on the undercard of a Matchroom show. He now returns to his old stomping grounds once again as a well-seasoned 22-year-old prospect after wrapping up camp in Washington with the Benavidez Family.
Pacheco is coached by Jose Benavidez Sr. and trains alongside fellow super middleweight contender David Benavidez as well as former title challenger Jose Benavidez Jr.
Pacheco has had a perfect 2023 featuring a pair of fourth-round knockout wins in headlining fights. Pacheco stopped Jack Cullen in March in Liverpool, United Kingdom and also stopped Manuel Gallegos in Monterrey, Mexico in July.
Coceres will be a credible challenger to further gauge Pacheco’s promise. Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn is bullish that Pacheco has all of the makings of a future world champion.
Pacheco is aiming for a performance that’ll be better than anyone Coceres has ever faced, while Coceres will be looking to play the role of prospect buster.
Coceres is known for dropping Edgar Berlanga during a competitive unanimous decision loss in 2021. The 32-year-old Coceres also challenged Billy Joe Saunders for a world title in 2019 and was ahead on one scorecard before suffering an 11th-round stoppage loss. Undefeated super middleweight contender Erik Bazinyan has also beaten Coceres last year.
The Pacheco vs. Coceres card will also mark just the second time that the YouTube Theater has staged a boxing event in its three-year history.
In January, Alexis Rocha headlined a Golden Boy show and beat George Ashie.
“Promoters have a new opportunity and venue to showcase boxing’s up and coming stars,” Adolfo Romero, vice president of programming and booking for YouTube Theater, told BoxingScene.com in an interview.
Romero said the 6,000 seat venue can become a staple for boxing events moving forward due to their cross-promotional capabilities across diverse audiences.
Hollywood Park hosted and promoted Pacheco during the CONCACAF Gold Cup final between Panama and Mexico at SoFi Stadium in July. During a recent concert headlined by rapper Travis Scott, the over 50,000 fans in attendance at SoFi Stadium were greeted by advertising featuring the Pacheco vs. Coceres event both outside and inside the stadium.
“We’re partners,” said Romero. “We’re in a position to really become a strong ally for the sport. This is just the beginning of what boxing can be at YouTube Theater.”
The goal for the overall collective at Hollywood Park is to eventually bring a big-time boxing match to the main stadium, but that can only be considered with a select few superstars.
For now, it’s Pacheco’s turn to pounce on his homecoming opportunity as he looks to further pave his own path and raise his star power.
“I’ve been a pro now for five years, and the love and support has been growing,” said Pacheco. “I’m just excited to be back home in front of my hometown fans. Friends and family can come out to watch me perform live. I’ve had a great camp preparing for a tough opponent. I’m excited for the opportunity to get to 20-0 and one step closer to a world title.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.