2023 Prospect of the year: super middleweight Diego Pacheco
Plus reports on rest of the top 15 in order; past winners year-by-year
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About halfway through his first scheduled 12-round bout, super middleweight Diego Pacheco was being pushed by former world title challenger Marcelo Coceres as much as he had by anybody thus far in his pro career in the Los Angeles homecoming bout Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn gave him in November.
But after several rounds of close, competitive combat, Pacheco took out battle-tested Coceres with a flurry of power shots and a big uppercut to knock him out in the ninth round of an action-packed bout in a DAZN main event at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, minutes from Pacheco’s home in South Central Los Angeles.
Naturally, Pacheco was all smiles after his well-earned victory. He knew it was just the next step in a career many believe will result in a world title and major fights.
“It was (great) experience being in there with a guy who has been in world championship fights and in with some of the top guys in the division,” Pacheco said after the bout. “None of them were able to get him out of there like I was, so I was proud of the performance.”
But Pacheco did not dwell on the impressive victory.
“I know I could have done a lot of things a lot better. There’s always room for improvement,” Pacheco said. “Now I can go back into the gym and get ready for next year.”
It was the perfect way for Pacheco to end a 2023 that saw him win all three of his fights by knockout, including bouts in England and Mexico, and earn Fight Freaks Unite prospect of the year honors.
The 22-year-old Pacheco (20-0, 17 KOs), who began boxing at 10, looks ready for prime time in 2024 as he continued to build on a foundation set in the amateurs, where he was an eight-time national champion and had membership on the U.S. and Mexican national teams before signing with Matchroom Boxing and turning pro at age 17 in 2018.
He has excellent size for the 168-pound division with a lanky 6-foot-4 frame, power in both hands, an effective jab that he uses well from the outside, and he has matured physically.
He kicked off his 2023 campaign in March by drilling Jack Cullen in the fourth round on his British turf in what became the main event on short notice when original headliner Callum Smith had his fight canceled due to an injury.
For his second fight of the year, Pacheco, who is trained by Jose Benavidez Sr. and trains alongside his son, WBC interim super middleweight titlist David Benavidez, traveled to Mexico and was very impressive dropping Manuel Gallegos with a body shot and stopping him in the fourth round.
Then came the win over Coceres, who has faced several notable opponents and whose only previous knockout loss was in the 11th round of what had been an even fight against then-WBO titleholder Billy Joe Saunders in 2019.
“He’s 22 years of age,” an impressed Hearn said after the Coceres knockout. “This young man has everything at his feet in the super middleweight division. It’s one of the glamour divisions in the sport. You’ve got the greats like Canelo Alvarez, but as far as American prospects go, this young man is legit. I believe he’s going to go on and have a massive 2024 and we need those top 15 guys.
“We keep the progression, keep moving on. We’ve had this man since he was 17. South Central should be very proud of Diego Pacheco. He’s a good role model, he’s a good ambassador and he’s a future world champion for sure.”
That was music to Pacheco’s ears.
“I’m just ready to move forward and take on the big fights,” Pacheco said. “I feel I’m one of the top guys in the division. I’m not a big vocal guy, but everyone around me says it, Eddie Hearn says it, the boxing experts — they say I’m ready for the big fights. Let’s get it on. 2024 I’m ready for whoever.”
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Make sure to check out the other 2023 award stories
The rest of the best
(Name, record, division, age, hometown, promoter)
2. Keyshawn Davis (9-0, 6 KOs), lightweight, 24, Norfolk, Va., Top Rank
The 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and 2022 Fight Freaks Unite prospect of the year has had a can’t-miss tag since turning pro and having three pro fights before going to the Olympics. Top Rank is moving him quickly because he’s a multi-dimensional talent with amateur pedigree, speed, reflexes, skills, defense, ring IQ and work ethic. He’s really the total package except his lack of big-time power. Many project him as a future pound-for-pound caliber fighter. Trained by Brian McIntyre, Davis boxed three times in 2023: a ninth-round knockout of former junior welterweight title challenger Anthony Yigit in April; a near-shutout of Francesco Patera in July; and a majority decision over Nahir Albright in October that was changed to a no contest because Davis tested positive for marijuana after the bout and was suspended by Texas regulators for 90s days. That cost Davis a fourth fight of the year, which would have been in December against former two-division titlist Jose Pedraza, who he will instead face in February.
3. Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO), lightweight, 28, Miami, Fla., Matchroom Boxing and New Champions Promotions
With his massive amateur credentials and age, the heralded Cruz, a Cuban defector, is on the ultra fast track and won’t need much seasoning. Cruz was a 2020 Olympic gold medalist, three-time World Amateur champion (2017, 2019, 2021), two-time Pan American Games champion (2015, 2019) and is one of the most decorated amateurs ever, including four wins (one coming in the Olympic final) against 2022 prospect of the year Keyshawn Davis. Cruz, who trains in Philadelphia under Bozy Ennis (IBF welterweight titlist Jaron Ennis’ father), turned pro in July in a 10-rounder and routed former two-time world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos. In December, Cruz blew away Jovanni Straffon in the third round on the Devin Haney-Regis Prograis card. Cruz can fight going forward or back, has excellent speed and pound-for-pound talent. By this time next year it’s quite likely he will be in significant bouts and fighting for a world title.
4. Xander Zayas (18-0, 12 KOs), junior middleweight, 21, Sunrise, Fla., Top Rank
It may feel like Zayas has been around forever but that’s because the skilled and crowd-pleasing Puerto Rico native, who won 11 amateur national titles, was only 16 when he became the youngest fighter ever signed by Top Rank in its 50-plus-year history and was just 17 when he had his first pro bout. It was always going to be a few years of development and so far he has lived up to the billing and showed in 2023 he is ready to become a contender. The Peter Kahn-managed Zayas, who is also an emerging attraction, won all three of his bouts against solid opposition in Ronald Cruz (W8), Roberto Valenzuela Jr. (TKO5) and Jorge Fortea (KO5). He’s now at the stage where he will begin facing decent contenders and former titleholders. He has ability, a good body attack, a charming and friendly demeanor, and the look of a future star.
5. Adam Azim (10-0, 7 KOs), junior welterweight, 21, Slough, England, Boxxer
There are few prospects as exciting as Azim, who is a hard-hitter, especially with his right hand, has a wildly entertaining go-for-broke style and a lot of swagger. A pro since 2020, he is on the fast track and a growing draw in England, where Sky Sports is behind him. The Shane McGuigan-trained Azim won his three 2023 bouts, shutting out unbeaten Santos Reyes in February, pitching a near-shutout of Aram Faniian and then scoring his biggest win in November, when he knocked out experienced Franck Petitjean in the 10th round to win the European title. He comes off as mature beyond his years, which should help him deal with the inevitable distractions that will go with his potential stardom.
6. Elijah Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs), middleweight, 20, Glendale, Ariz., Premier Boxing Champions
Garcia, a southpaw with power and poise, began boxing at 11, won a U.S. national title in 2017, turned pro in 2020 and has emerged as one of boxing’s most exciting prospects. He’s a fourth generation fighter as father/trainer George Garcia Jr., grandfather George Sr. and a great grandfather all boxed professionally. He had a breakout year in 2023, getting wide exposure on Showtime and Showtime PPV in entertaining fights against good opposition. He stopped unbeaten Amilcar Vidal Jr. in the fourth round with surprising ease in March in his first scheduled 10-rounder; outpointed Kevin Salgado in a tough fight on the Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia PPV in April; and took apart Armando Resendiz in an eighth-round knockout in a slugfest on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo PPV. He has everything it takes to become a fan favorite and champion.
7. Floyd Schofield (16-0, 12 KOs), lightweight, 21, Austin, Texas, Golden Boy and Davies Entertainment
Schofield, who began boxing at age 8, has a nice blend of power and speed not to mention a crowd-pleasing style. Youth is on his side, so there is no rush with him but his performances and desire to move more quickly may result in a faster track. Schofield, a fan of Golden Boy owners Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins, was 4-0 (two by knockout) in 2023, when he moved into scheduled 10-rounders and defeated a reasonable level of experienced opponents, including a 100-87 shutout decision over the very experienced Haskell Rhodes in July.
8. Marc Castro (11-0, 8 KOs), lightweight, 24, Fresno, Calif., Matchroom Boxing
None other than Canelo Alvarez thought so highly of Castro, who was 177-7 in a standout amateur career, that he had him on five of his undercards when Alvarez was working with Matchroom Boxing. Stylistically, the Keith Connolly-managed Castro is a volume puncher who throws from all angles and typically wears down opponents with his relentlessness. He is also not at all afraid to bang it out, which makes him crowd-pleasing. He won both of his 2023 bouts, stopping Ricardo Torrez in the seventh round in April and Gonlzalo Fuenzalida in the seventh round of his first scheduled 10-rounder in November. A torso injury in July cost him a third fight.
9. Abdullah Mason (11-0, 9 KOs), lightweight, 19, Cleveland, Ohio, Top Rank
Mason, a southpaw, who has shown excellent power to go with his strong fundamentals and very good speed, passes the eye test immediately when watching him fight. He turned pro in 2021 at age 17 and has quickly become a must-see prospect. The Top Rank stable is loaded with young talent and company brass sees him as somebody who can rise to the top. Despite his youth, he’s shown maturity and poise in the ring and finishing instincts when he has an opponent hurt. He fought five times in 2023 and scored four knockouts while gradually increasing his opposition. He figures to take a much bigger step up in 2024.
10. Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs), junior middleweight, 23, Stafford, Texas, Warriors Boxing and Boxlab Promotions
Cuban defector Tellez first went to Russia, where he had his first two pro bouts in 2020, and then had a two-year layoff before making his way to the U.S. and settling in the Houston area, where he trains with Ronnie Shields and is friends with another Shields fighter, fellow Cuban David Morrell, the WBA “regular” super middleweight titlist. Because Tellez was so young before leaving Cuba, he didn’t have tons of amateur accolades and fights in a much more offensive-minded manner than Cubans schooled for years in their amateur system. Shields raves about his power, especially his left hook, and he has gained experience sparring with Canelo Alvarez and Jermall Charlo, another Shields fighter. Tellez was 4-0 in 2023, and tremendously impressive in his second two bouts, a shockingly easy second-round KO of fringe contender Sergio Garcia in his first scheduled 10-rounder on the Errol Spence Jr.-Terence Crawford Showtime PPV card and a highlight-reel 10th-round KO of Livan Navarro in December on the Jake Paul-Andre August card.
11. Austin “Ammo” Williams (15-0, 10 KOs), middleweight, 27, Houston, Texas, Matchroom Boxing
The southpaw Williams was a standout amateur, taking bronze in the 2016 U.S. National Championships, among other podium appearances. A pro since 2019, Williams has shown an ability to both box and punch and has good command of the ring. He has seemed to fight better the tougher the competition. He won both of his fights in 2023 — a little more activity would be nice — going to England and dropping and stopping River Wilson-Bent when he his corner threw in towel during the eighth round in April and winning clear decision in September against Steve Rolls, whose only previous losses were by decision to Edgar Berlanga and knockout to Gennadiy Golovkin. It seems like only a matter of time until Williams is in a meaningful fight.
12. Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (10-0, 6 KOs), featherweight, 26, Brooklyn, N.Y., Top Rank)
Carrington was a gold medalist in the prestigious New York Golden Gloves tournament in 2019 and turned pro in 2021 with some fanfare as Top Rank, which loves his potential, gave him a coveted spot on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder III. So far, Carrington has not disappointed and is on a bit of a fast track because he’s a little older for an up-and-coming featherweight. He has excellent size for the division at 5-foot-8, good speed and overall skills to go with swagger. He fights well on the inside. In 2023, he was busy, fighting five times and winning three by KO, including an impressive second-round knockout in December of Jason Sanchez, who had never previously been stopped and had faced several quality opponents, including going the distance with then-WBO featherweight titlist Oscar Valdez in a 2019 title shot.
13. Ernesto “Tito” Mercado (13-0, 12 KOs), junior welterweight, 22, Pomona, Calif., free agent
Mercado, who is a volume puncher with power, is an unusual prospect in that he is not signed to a promoter but instead is being built on small shows his father and trainer Neto Mercado puts on. His son’s exploits may soon earn him a promotional deal if he keeps doing what he did in 2023, which was to go 5-0 and win four by knockout while increasing his competition level, including a first-round destruction of faded former title challenger Hank Lundy; a 10-round decision over Xolisani Ndongeni, who had gone the distance in a loss to Devin Haney before he became a world champion; and a second-round blowout of Jeremia Nakathila in November in a fight way easier than anyone would have figured. Nakathila had gone the distance with Shakur Stevenson in an interim junior lightweight title bout and knocked out former titlist Miguel Berchelt.
14. Moses Itauma (7-0, 5 KOs), heavyweight, 19, Chatham, England, Queensberry Promotions)
The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Itauma is just a baby at 19 but has massive potential and looks the part of future contender. He went 24-0 as an amateur as a standout at the junior level and was two-time British national champion. He turned pro last January and was very busy with all seven of his pro fights in 2023. He has shown power, albeit against lesser opponents and was pushed the six-round distance in his second and third bouts. He has yet to face even decent opposition but for his age and with his physical attributes and apparent power, he is absolutely worth watching. He has had valuable experience sparring with former heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua as well as heavyweight contenders Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois and former cruiserweight titlist Lawrence Okolie. Whether Itauma can take a big punch — always a key, especially for a heavyweight — is unknown.
15. Callum Walsh (9-0, 7 KOs), junior middleweight, 22, Cork, Ireland, 360 Promotions
The offensive-minded Walsh, who was a standout amateur, has moved quickly since his 2021 pro debut. The southpaw relocated to Southern California, where he is trained by the legendary Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, and caught the attention of UFC boss Dana White, a lifelong boxing fan, who has taken a liking to him so much so that he made a deal with Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions to put stream his events on UFC Fight Pass. Walsh stepped up to scheduled 10-rounders in 2023 and flourished with four victories, including three by knockout. In his final bout of the year, Walsh headlined at the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, where executives see him a potential big draw for the Irish community that has long supported its fighters. In that November fight, Walsh faced his best opponent so far in Ismael Villarreal and won a competitive but clear decision.
Rafael's Prospects of the Year
2023-Diego Pacheco
2022-Keyshawn Davis
2021-Jared Anderson
2020-Jaron Ennis
2019-Vergil Ortiz Jr.
2018-Teofimo Lopez Jr.
2017-Ryan Garcia
2016-Erickson Lubin
2015-Errol Spence Jr.
2014-Felix Verdejo
2013-Vasiliy Lomachenko
2012-David Price
2011-Gary Russell Jr.
2010-Canelo Alvarez
2009-Daniel Jacobs
2008-Victor Ortiz
2007-Amir Khan
2006-Andre Berto
2005-Joel Julio
2004-Samuel Peter
2003-Jermain Taylor
2002-Miguel Cotto
2001-Francisco Bojado
2000-Julio Diaz
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Photos: Pacheco: Melina Pizano/Matchroom Boxing; Davis, Zayas, Mason, Carrington, Itauma: Mikey Williams/Top Rank; Cruz, Castro: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing; Azim: Lawrence Lustig/Boxxer; Garcia: Esther Lin/Showtime; Schofield: Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; Tellez: Ryan Hafey/PBC; Williams: Michelle Farsi/Matchroom Boxing; Mercado: Team Mercado; Walsh: Lina Baker/360 Promotions
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Elijah Garcia no 1 next year
Is it a problem that Keshawn Davis was the prospect of the year in 2022 and he’s still in the list in 2023? Or, is his placement sort of saying that you expect 2024 to be the year he sheds the prospect label?