Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel want to break their tie – and each other

LOS ANGELES – Alexis Rocha said he was done in by innate forces. Try as he might to resist the temptation of rematching Raul Curiel after their contentious battle to a draw in 2024, Rocha and his rival will run it back on January 16.

“I’m a Mexican – we’re going to go in and leave it all out there,” Rocha, 25-2-1 (16 KOs), told BoxingScene Tuesday as he and Curiel, 16-0-1 (14 KOs), made separate appearances at their Golden Boy Promotions’ offices to discuss their January 16 rematch in the first boxing card at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California.

While Curiel was clearly all in for a violent sequel, Rocha has devoted enough time to the finer points of boxing to know that he can box or brawl.

“It was a great fight for the fans – for everyone. And now we’ve got a lot to settle. So I’m going to prove I’m the better fighter,” Rocha said.

While working as a DAZN analyst during his year-long layoff that was partially caused by a biceps injury, Rocha became quite skilled at breaking down a fighter’s gameplan.

“When you’re in a fight, it’s going 100 miles per hour and you can’t catch your breath,” he said. “Sitting back, being able to think as an analyst, you can observe and wonder, ‘Why is he doing this? Why is he not doing that?’ You can really analyze the boxing.”

He’s done as much in reviewing his draw with Curiel and will use the takeaways of that replay in the rematch.

“I can’t share too much information. You go back and look at the adjustments you can make over why a round was so close, or why they gave some rounds to him,” Rocha said. “This is what I need to pick up on.” 

While Rocha, 28, said he’s spent a wealth of time in the gym since last fight to regain his sharpness, the 30-year-old Curiel took a fight on the June 28 Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr undercard and knocked out Victor Rodriguez in the fourth round.

He’s also left Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach for reigning trainer of the year Robert Garcia, finding effective sparring and counsel at Garcia’s gym with gifted fighters – including Giovanni Santillan, who defeated Rocha by sixth-round knockout in 2023.

“Of course it’s going to be different. I changed my team, changed everything since my last fight with him. I can’t wait to make a statement,” Curiel said. “I’ve been working hard. I’m at the elite level of this division, and I expect this fight to be a war, too. Last fight, the fans were happy. Definitely, I’ll go for a knockout this time.”

Curiel said he believes “I fought the best version of Alexis in the last fight. I know I’m on the right team, in the right position now, to do a lot of things. When things happen in the fight, I know what to do.

“I know he’s been training. He’s very disciplined. I need to go for the kill. I can’t be overconfident. I’m in a better position, more comfortable. There’s no more science to this than you’ve got to work hard, and the guy who’s worked harder is going to win this fight.” 

Both Curiel and Rocha believe they’re on the cusp of a welterweight title shot. Curiel is ranked in the top 15 by all four sanctioning bodies – No. 3 by the WBA, No. 5 by the WBC, No. 6 by the IBF and No. 13 by the WBO. Rocha is seventh in the IBF, ninth in the WBO and 13th in the WBC.

A new WBC champion could emerge by year’s end if their Golden Boy stablemate Ryan Garcia defeats champion Mario Barrios on February 21.

“It’s in my mind. I won a WBA eliminator last fight and the winner could fight for a title or fight one of the top fighters in the division by winning here,” Curiel said. “It would make a statement. I need to do that, and know I can.”

Rocha is plotting the same position for himself.

“I hope so … winning this fight and dominating, leaving no doubt, I think that does catapult me to a title shot as long as someone gives me a chance,” Rocha said.

Someone like Garcia?

“Yeah, you’re right. That could definitely happen and that’s a fight I want,” he said.

First comes the task of delivering Curiel his first loss.

“The things we work on in training camp – knowing what he does good and bad,” Rocha said when asked how he can neutralize Curiel’s aggression. “Taking the time to really analyze him and improve.”

While Rocha is thankful for the DAZN analyst work providing a peek at a future career, the gig also reminded him of his true calling. 

“Training so hard is no fun because your body hurts so much, but you’ve got to do it – the weight cut, running early – it’s what I love to do,” Rocha said. “I look forward to all of it.” 

The rematch taking place in Acrisure Arena, where Paul McCartney headlined this fall, provides added enthusiasm along with heightened stakes.

“I’m confident it will sell well given that it’s the first fight there and our last fight was so good,” Rocha said.

Curiel, too, is embracing the carpe diem of it all.

“I’m happy to be here because I’ve dreamed of something like this since I started boxing as a kid at 6 years old,” Curiel said. “I’ve got my family and my daughter I’m supporting and a lot of reasons to win this fight. I’m going to focus on that and later go for the world championship. I’m very lucky.”