Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will run it back on Friday, aiming to settle unfinished business after their punishing December 2024 clash ended in a majority draw.
Rocha, ranked No. 7 at 147 pounds by The Ring, believes the sequel will leave no doubt. Two judges scored the first fight 114-114, while a third had it 116-112 for Rocha, a reflection of how tight and physical the rounds were. “I think I won the first fight,” Rocha said, adding that being labeled the underdog fuels him after injuries kept him sidelined throughout 2025.
Curiel, The Ring’s No. 8 welterweight, counters that he faced Rocha at his best and expects another fight-of-the-year caliber battle. The numbers underline the intensity: Rocha landed 205 of 818 punches, while Curiel connected on 232 of 731, per CompuBox, with many rounds razor-close. Curiel stayed active in 2025, scoring a four-round knockout of Victor Rodriguez in June.
A key wrinkle this time is Curiel’s corner, as he now works under reigning trainer of the year Robert Garcia after a long run with Freddie Roach. Curiel insists that lesson learned from the draw is clear: he’s hunting a finish.
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