Uppercut Finisher in Inglewood
Danilo Perez | Staff Photographer & Writer
Boxers take to the ring at YouTube Theater. Main event Diego Pacheco and Marcelo “El Terrible” Coceres.
On Saturday, Nov. 18, South Central Los Angeles native Diego Pacheco scored a knockout win over veteran Marcelo “El Terrible” Coceres in a matchup hosted by Matchroom Boxing. The night’s roster consisted of 12 total boxers with two fights having titles at stake at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood.
The opening match consisted of LA native Criztec “El Flaco” Bazaldua and Pedro Angel Cruz from San Jose, California. The lightweight contest went to Bazaldua.
The following match was between Jalan “Sky”Walker from LA and Jorge Alberto from Los Mochis, Mexico. By technical knockout, Walker came out victorious for the Super Featherweight contest.
From Fresno, California, Marc Castro remains undefeated with a record of 11-0 after taking on Gonzalo Fuenzalida from Santiago de Chile, Chile. They battled it out for 7 rounds as fans chanted “Castro” until the referee stopped the match after Castro threw jab after jab to Fuenzalida. Match was declared over by knockout.
Jonathan Rodriguez celebrating after knocking out Kal Yafai in the first round to become the new WBA Intercontinental Bantamweight champion in YouTube Theater on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Inglewood, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)
As for the fourth match, Jonathan Rodriguez from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, took on former world champion Kai Yafai from Birmingham, England. The match was over within the first round after a vicious knockout, declaring Rodriguez the new WBA Intercontinental Bantamweight champion. The 34-year old Englishman was making his comeback run after his first defeat back in 2020 against the Nicaraguan Román ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzáles.
Yafai announced his retirement immediately after his loss to Rodriguez. “I had ‘The Last Dance’ on my robe and engraved in my shorts,” Yafai said at the end of the match.
Mayerlin Rivas from Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Erika Cruz from Mexico City, Mexico, went toe-to-toe 10 rounds straight. With a score card of 95-95, 98-92, and 97-93, by majority decision Cruz is the new WBA World Super Bantamweight champion.
Cruz is now a two-time world weight champion. Cruz called winning the title very emotional as she stood by her team leader, who is also her father. In the post-fight interview in the ring, Cruz was told that Matchroom promoted another fighter with a belt and if she was interested in fighting them next.
“I’m ready to fight with whoever is out there. Viva Mexico!,” she said.
Erika Cruz celebrating after dethroning Mayerlin Rivas of the WBA World Super-Bantamweight title. This win made her a two division champion on Saturday, Nov. 18 in YouTube Theater at Inglewood, Calif. (Danilo Perez | The Corsair)
It was then time for the main event. Pacheco vs. Coceres for the WBO International and USWBC Super Bantamweight titles. The two went to battle, giving spectators an exciting fight with jab after jab up until the final hit that ended the fight in the tenth round.
Pacheco had Coceres on the ropes, throwing combos over and over until Pacheco threw a finishing uppercut to get a knockout win, adding to his undefeated record, now 20-0.
When asked what he felt about winning in his own “backyard” and if he’s ready for bigger things, Pacheco said, “It’s like a dream come true. I feel like I’m one of the top guys in the division. I’m 22 years old. I’m not a real big vocal guy who likes to come out and say it, but everyone around me says it. 2024, I’m ready for whatever.”
“South Central has a new superstar in Diego Pacheco,” said promoter Eddie Hearn in the post-match interview.
Pacheco was grateful for Matchroom who have brought him this far into his career. He said that he is ready to move into the new year and take bigger fights and keep headlining around the world.
