Joshua Pagan won wide on the cards in his hometown main event Tuesday night, but the performance did not match the push that has followed him over the past year.
Pagan, unbeaten in 15 fights with five stoppages, labored 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 definitely not the performance that was 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, doubled the jab, and found a home for the straight right hand. Jimenez, now 18-3 with 10 knockouts, struggled to close distance cleanly and gave away ground. Pagan boxed with patience and built a lead that forced Jimenez to chase.
The second half told a different story. Jimenez began pressing harder, walking Pagan back and roughing him up along the ropes. The Nicaraguan landed clubbing body shots and forced Pagan to work in tighter quarters than he seemed comfortable with. A cut opened over Pagan’s brow, adding a visible complication and shifting the energy inside the building. The heavy favorite was still ahead, but he was no longer in cruise control.
To Pagan’s credit, he steadied himself late. 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 win.
Still, the expectation was domination. Pagan has been discussed as a rising lightweight with upside, the kind of fighter who could soon move from regional belts into deeper waters. Tuesday night kept his record intact and likely nudged him closer to a top-10 position with the WBO. It also raised quieter questions about how his style holds up when the opponent refuses to cooperate, and the fight gets physical.
Jimenez was not a top contender. He was supposed to be handled. Pagan did handle him, but not in a way that quiets doubts about what happens when the names get bigger and the pressure increases.
There is value in winning rounds and learning under fire. Pagan did both. The step up that follows will reveal whether this was simply a workmanlike homecoming or an early warning that the climb will be steeper than advertised.
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Last Updated on 02/10/2026
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