Joshua Pagan won big on the cards in his hometown main event on Tuesday night, but the performance didn’t match the pressure that has followed him over the past year.
Pagan, undefeated in 15 fights with five stoppages, worked his way through a 10-round unanimous decision over Bryan Jimenez at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, defending his WBO NABO lightweight belt by scores of 99-91, 99-91 and 100-90. It was a clear win, but certainly not the performance expected from the 26-year-old Pagan. He looked very average throughout and took a lot of punishment in the sixth from Jimenez.
The early rounds followed the script. Pagan controlled the range, doubling the jab and finding a home for the straight right hand. Jimenez, now 18-3 with 10 knockouts, struggled to close distance cleanly and gave up ground. Pagan boxed with patience and built a lead that forced Jimenez to chase.
The second half told a different story. Jimenez started to push harder, walking Pagan back and driving him up the ropes. The Nicaraguan landed club shots and forced Pagan to work in tighter quarters than he seemed comfortable with. A cut opened across Pagan’s forehead, adding a visible complication and shifting the energy within the building. The heavy favorite was still ahead, but he was no longer in cruise control.
To Pagan’s credit he had himself conjured. A right hand in the ninth briefly shook Jimenez and restored order. The tenth was cleaner, more composed and enough to close without drama. The judges reflected the early dominance. The crowd celebrated the homecoming victory.
Yet the expectation was dominance. Pagan has been booked as an up-and-coming lightweight with upside, the kind of fighter who could soon move from regional belts to deeper waters. Tuesday night kept his record intact and likely pushed him closer to a top-10 position at the WBO. It also raised quieter questions about how his style holds up when the opponent refuses to cooperate, and the fight turns physical.
Jimenez was not a top contender. He was supposed to be handled. Pagan did handle him, but not in a way that silences any doubt about what happens when the names get bigger and the pressure mounts.
There is value in winning laps and learning under fire. Pagan did both. The step that follows will reveal whether this was simply a workmanlike homecoming or an early warning that the climb will be steeper than advertised.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 02/10/2026
