Initially, Golden Boy Promotions were supposed to kick off its 2026 schedule with a high-stakes rematch between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel on January 16 in Palm Desert, California but Rocha struggled during his weight cut ahead of Thursday morning’s session and was forced to pull out of the planned rematch So, Jordan Panthen has been thrust into the spotlight after stepping in at the last minute to face highly ranked welterweight Raul Curiel in Friday’s main event.
Panthen (11-1-1, 9 KOs) was originally set to compete on a non-DAZN undercard but was elevated to the main event on short notice. The bout will now be contested at a catchweight of 158lbs after Panthen weighed 157 pounds during his original weigh-in, while Curiel later returned to the scale at 155.8 pounds following rehydration.
“I thought for one or two seconds and said yes,” Panthen said, describing the call to face Curiel. He acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting Curiel’s forward style, experience, and training under renowned coach Robert Garcia. Despite limited preparation time, Panthen stressed he is focused on winning rather than simply seizing an opportunity.
Curiel (16-0-1, 14 KOs), ranked No. 3 by the WBA, No. 5 by the WBC, and No. 7 by the IBF, must now adjust quickly after tailoring his camp toward Rocha. His team opted to proceed rather than scrap the fight altogether, viewing the matchup as a chance to remain active and make a statement despite the change in opponent and weight dynamics.
Panthen enters the bout riding momentum from a hard-fought majority decision win in July, a performance that led him to switch trainers to veteran cornerman Ronnie Shields. For Curiel, the fight remains a key step as he eyes future title opportunities, with both camps acknowledging that the late switch has created a dangerous, unpredictable matchup for Friday night.
The Palm Desert card will also feature another rematch, as Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores faces Jorge Chavez following their July 24 draw.
Chavez (14-0-1, 8 KOs) maintains he deserved the nod in the first encounter, pointing to a lone 97-93 scorecard that favored him. He believes his movement, timing, and clean punching were misunderstood by the judges and says small refinements will widen the margin this time. Chavez insists that once he felt how easily he could land, he knew he was in control of the fight.
Flores (20-1-1, 16 KOs) sees the bout very differently. Fighting in front of his hometown crowd in July, the 27-year-old felt he started too slowly but rallied strongly in the second half. This time, Flores says the focus is on cutting off the ring, applying consistent pressure, and preventing Chavez from boxing comfortably at range. He believes a sharper start will eliminate any doubt on the scorecards.
Fight card:
▪️Raul Curiel vs. Jordan Panthen, 10 rounds, middleweight
▪️Manuel Flores vs. Jorge Chavez, 10 rounds, for the WBA Continental USA and California State super bantamweight titles
▪️Joel Iriarte vs. Jireh De Los Santos, 8 rounds, for the WBA Continental Gold welterweight title
▪️Ruslan Abdullaev vs. Eduardo Javier Abreu, 8 rounds, for the WBA Continental Gold super lightweight title
▪️Cayden Griffiths vs. Lesther Espino, 6 rounds, welterweight
Prelims (Starts at 5:30 pm ET):
▪️John Ramirez vs. Byron Rojas, 10 rounds, super flyweight
▪️Fabian Guzman vs. Jose Gabriel Rodriguez, 8 rounds, middleweight
▪️Ricardo Ruvalcaba vs. Jonathan Jose Eniz, 8 rounds, welterweight
