For Alexis Rocha, the road to the welterweight championship is starting to feel like chasing the sunset – and just as it comes into view, it slips away from the horizon. Rocha, a 27-year-old southpaw, has been trying to win the title since his big win over Blair Cobbs, but remains stuck in a near-miss.
However, his dignity and sportsmanship were higher than ever.
Rocha enters Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif., on Saturday night looking to cement his status as a major contender in the welterweight division. Instead, Rocha ended Golden Boy Promotions’ 2024 calendar with a majority draw win over the undefeated Raul Curiel in an exciting matchup.
Dr. Lou Moret and Fernando Villarreal scored 114-114, and Pat Russell gave Rocha the advantage at 115-113. The final tally left Rocha one fight away from a chance at a world title.
“I want a rematch,” Rocha said during the post-fight brawl. “That was a fun fight. I felt like I could do more. I know I’m going to do more in the second game. Let’s run this thing back.”
There were moments in this match that showcased the potential of both men as title challengers. Curiel, a 29-year-old former Olympian who represented Mexico in 2016, trains in Wild Card Boxing under the tutelage of Freddie Roach. He entered the ring with a spotless record and a reputation for punching power, but left with his first blemish at 15-0-1 (13 KOs).
“He proved he belonged to me,” said Rocha, who is from Santa Ana. “The first few rounds were very close. The middle rounds are still close.”
According to CompuBox, Rocha threw 818 punches and landed 205 punches, while Courier threw 732 punches and landed 232 punches. Courier also defeated Rocha 81-33, but Rocha’s powerful punches told a different story, with Rocha throwing 172 punches to Courier’s 151.
Courier’s size and awkward timing made Rocha’s game tricky early on, and he admitted he struggled to find his rhythm in the early rounds. However, Rocha believed his final sprint should secure victory.
“I thought I pulled too late, especially on the 10th, 11th and 12th,” Rocha said. “He threw punches, but they had no effect. I hit harder and hit harder. But what he did, was put the punches together. Even though they weren’t hurt, they looked good to the crowd. So excited.”
The draw ended Rocha’s two-game winning streak and raised his record to 25 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss (16 KOs). Still, he viewed tonight as a learning opportunity.
“I have to listen to my coach,” Rocha said. “When I followed the game plan, I was successful.”
Rocha said when asked if he felt he had Courier figured out. “Yeah, I think I did. I think I know where I need to improve.”
When asked to elaborate, Rocha said simply: “Being more disciplined. We just wanted to run it back. We brought an exciting fight and they brought a lot of fans. I’m satisfied.”
