It’s a new year, and that means welterweight Alexis Rocha can leave 2025 behind since he spent the entire last year on the sidelines.
On Friday, January 16, Rocha (25-2-1, 16 KOs) will step into the ring after a 13-month layoff against Raul Curiel (16-0-1, 14 KOs) in the rematch of their December 2024 fight, which resulted in a majority draw. Since then, Rocha has been recovering from an injury and doing some self-reflecting as he approaches what is likely the most important fight of his career so far.
Looking back at their first fight, Rocha and Curiel left it all in the ring, and fans at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, CA, remained on their feet for most of the rounds as it was a back-and-forth battle. Two of the judges that night couldn’t decide on a clear winner, scoring it 114-114, which left fans wanting to see a part two.
When asked about their first encounter and the lessons learned, Rocha didn’t hesitate to answer, as he is full of confidence just days before fight night. “For myself, it was make better adjustments and from Raul (Curiel), he was a game opponent but nothing out of the blue,” Rocha told FightsATW.
There were many questions about where Rocha had been and why he had not been in the ring since that December 2024 night. Ironically, a year after the first Curiel fight, Rocha revealed on Instagram that he had been battling an injury that kept him away from the ring.
“An entire year without stepping into the ring and I miss every second of it. After my injury, I’ve had time to refine my craft and my passion for boxing continues to grow. I’m so thankful for the boxing fans and the supporters that I’ve gained along my career. I’m excited to fight next month and put on a great show. Happy New Year everyone!”
Rocha provided FightsATW with a bit more context about that post, saying, “In April, I had to get surgery for one of my tendons, which was definitely no fun, but now I’m back to 100%.” Although he did not specify which tendon, any injury to a tendon in any part of the body can keep you sidelined for a significant amount of time. While recovering from his injury, Rocha had plenty of free time, so what did he do when he couldn’t be in the gym?
“I did a lot of self-reflection,” said Rocha. “I watched some of my fights to see what I need to do and improve on. I also spent a lot of time with my family, as I’m a son, brother, and fiancé first and foremost, so I have to really focus on that too.”
On Friday night, live from the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA, and broadcast on DAZN, Rocha aims to reclaim his position on the cusp of a title shot with a victory over Curiel in the rematch, while his opponent seeks to cement his status as a top contender at welterweight. Rocha told FightsATW that “the adjustments” he plans to make during the fight will be crucial in this rematch. Regarding what fans can expect on fight night, Rocha said, “It’s going to be a lot of fireworks. The first one was a banger, and this one is going to be no different.”
As the old saying goes, “styles make fights,” and no truer statement could be made when discussing Rocha vs. Curiel. It’s now up to both fighters to prove who deserves to be called a top contender at 147. Who will come out on top? We’ll soon see, as Friday night on DAZN can’t come quickly enough.
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