Crawford frustrated with Nelson’s strategy against Pacek

Terence Crawford wasn’t happy with how fellow Omaha native Steven Nelson was unable to capitalize on the flaws in super middleweight Diego Pacek’s game last Saturday night at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

(Credit: Melina Pisano/Matchroom)

Left hook

Former four-division world champion Crawford says he was yelling at Nelson (20-1, 16 KOs) to throw a left hook throughout the fight as Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) was turning, exposing his back with his defensive tactics.

All Steven could say in his defense was that he was cut over his left eye in the third and saw yellow on that side.

Nelson, 36, did not take advantage of this flaw. Indeed, he fought the wrong way for the first ten rounds, and it wasn’t until the 11th and 12th that he went at the skinny 6’4′ stork Pacek, overwhelming him with punches and pressure. By then it was too late, and Diego (23) survived to win a 12-round unanimous decision.

Too little, too late

However, that didn’t stop him from fighting hard in the last two rounds to get closer. He should have attacked much earlier instead of waiting until late in the fight to go after Pacek.

The scores were 117-111, 117-111 and 117-111.

Pacheco vs. Nelson Final Punch Stats

– Diego Pacheco – 132 of 464 shots for 28.4%
– Steven Nelson – 77 of 560 shots for 14.8%

Terence Crawford: “I was trying to tell you the whole struggle (to throw) the hook. He (Diego Pacheco) continued like this (turning his back). Throw the fucking hook,” Terence Crawford said in the locker room, lecturing Steven Nelson that he failed to capitalize on the advantages that were there all night in his fight against Diego Pacek.

Steven Nelson: “I couldn’t see out of his eye (left). It was orange and yellow. So this shit right here. I hesitated to be caught here. That’s why it was hard to do that s***. Blood. You know, right after I got cut in the third round, it all started.”

Steven Nelson locker room post fight report 🔊 #PachecoNelson pic.twitter.com/M7V8kEMvrK

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