Diego Pacheco is forecasting a breakthrough 2025 campaign.

First off the blocks for the super middleweight contender Pacheco (22-0, 18 KOs) is a fight against Steven Nelson (20-0, 16 KOs) on Saturday, headlining a Matchroom Boxing card at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on DAZN.

And after that, Pacheco is confident he can handle the likes of Caleb Plant, Jaime Munguia, Edgar Berlanga and Christian Mbilli, if he’s presented with an opportunity.

But none of that happens if Nelson proves to be too much for Pacheco, The Ring’s No. 3 ranked 168-pounder who is also ranked No. 1 by the WBO for Canelo Alvarez’s title as well as No. 3 by the WBC, and No. 6 by the IBF.

“Nelson is undefeated, has good experience, and is a solid fighter with some skills but I feel that he's never been in the ring with someone who is 6 foot 4, can box, hit the body, land uppercuts, and move around in the ring,” Pacheco told The Ring.

“He's a hungry fighter who knows this is probably his last chance to get into the world title conversation. I know he’s going to come with everything which is why I’m working my ass off, working for the best Steven Nelson possible. I can do a lot more things. I’m athletic, disciplined, and a complete fighter. That's what's gotten me here.

"I’m in the best shape of my life and motivated more than ever, and stronger than ever. I'm confident in landing a punch to put him to sleep. I’m working for the knockout. I’m excited about where I’m at in my career. I’m on the verge of getting a world title shot. I'm looking forward to putting on a great DP show.”

Pacheco last fought in August headlining a show in his Los Angeles hometown and knocked out former middleweight title challenger Maciej Sulecki with a sixth-round body shot.

Afterward, Pacheco said he signed his side of a deal to fight Mbilli in an IBF title eliminator, but Mbilli didn’t follow up from his end, and therefore, they each moved on. Trevor McCumby, who last fought and dropped Plant before getting stopped in September, was atop the list to face Pacheco but the fight never crossed the finish line. That left the door open for Nelson to seize the opportunity.

“I'm ready for the top five guys right now. That's why I’m in the sport – to get to the top and be the best,” said Pacheco.

“I don't want to cruise and stack my record. I’m ready to put it all on the line. Let's get it. But I'm young at 23 and guys see me as a high-risk, low-reward fight. I really haven't done much in the sport. I'm a young guy who’s still trying to get up there. But there is going to come a time where I can't be denied and they’re going to have to go in there with me – and that time is coming very soon.”