MORENO VALLEY, California – Raul Curiel assesses the upward mobility of his boxing career, and is reminded of the achievement he’s nearing.
“It’s been a long time since there’s been a [native] Mexican welterweight champion,” Curiel said.
Coincidentally or not, the last to do it was Antonio Margarito, the Tijuana product who was champion in 2009 while trained by Robert Garcia, the returning trainer of the year who started cornering Curiel, 16-0-1 (14 KOs), last year before his fourth-round knockout of Victor Rodriguez on the Jake Paul-Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr undercard in June.
“Margarito was a great champion,” Garcia said. “To take that from him would be unbelievable, and the fact Curiel’s looking at that means he’s ready, he’s motivated. Curiel is a smart kid, learned English so well, asks questions. He’s a student of the sport, a joy to work with.”
Curiel’s ascent escalated off his late 2024 draw against fellow Southern Californian Alexis Rocha, 25-2-1 (16 KOs), in a DAZN main event.
Friday, at the new Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, Curiel and Rocha stage their rematch again topping a DAZN card with the 30-year-old father of a 2-year-old daughter tightly focused on his mission to honor his home country after being born and raised in Tamaulipas, Mexico.
“I want to be considered among the top fighters from Mexico,” Curiel told BoxingScene Wednesday at Garcia’s gym after checking his weight and preparing for the short drive to Palm Springs.
“I had a good amateur pedigree, was a Mexican Olympian. You know, Mexico hasn’t had a welterweight champion since a long time ago, so I’m looking to be him. I represent my country, my people, my ‘hood. I’m just looking to be a world champion and let the new generation know dreams come true.”
Curiel has resided in the U.S. for 10 years.
“For me, every fight is more important because it puts me closer to the world championship,” Curiel said. “And this one has attention because we made the first one so entertaining for the people. This fight is so important to me because I feel like I’m just one fight from the world title. This is my opportunity to shine, to show how I’ve improved and make a statement. [Rocha’s] a good boxer, but off this camp, with this new trainer, I feel at 100%.”
Obsessive or not, Curiel has watched his first Rocha fight several times, including Wednesday morning.
The pair combined for more than 1,500 punches, according to CompuBox, with Rocha out-landing Curiel 171-152 in power punches and Curiel out-landing Rocha 232-205 in total punches.
“I need to be more offensive this time,” Curiel said. “I gave him a lot of opportunities to hit me. This time, I’m never going to let him do his work. I’m going to push him from the first round and go for the knockout because I can’t go to the scorecards again with him. I’ve studied Alexis. I know he’s training hard for this one because it’s a rematch.
“I have to be more savage, more aggressive this time. I can take that risk and look to knock him out, and I’m pretty sure I can do it.”
By moving from Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club to the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy, Curiel was able to spar with left-handed stablemate Giovanni Santillan, who knocked out Rocha in 2023 and is preparing for his 154lbs debut January 31 in Puerto Rico.
“I’m a southpaw like Rocha, a similar size to him, fought him before,” Santillan said. “We both have a come-forward style … so I think I showed him someone similar.
“In this [rematch], it’s about who makes the adjustments quicker after the first few rounds. [Curiel] is busier with his hands.”
Garcia believes the strides in training will serve Curiel well.
“Since his last fight, his accuracy has gotten so much better. He has the best sparring partners, a trainer in mitts,” Garcia said. “It makes a big difference. It can’t get any better.
“Curiel has been very dedicated. He’s motivated. It’s a big fight from the rematch. I think this will be another fight the people watching in the arena and on DAZN will love it because it will be a war. I know Curiel is ready thanks to his training and sparring, and I feel it’s a fight with no excuses. He’s in top shape. I can’t wait for the bell to ring.”
Switching to Garcia showed its effect in June for NABF champion Curiel, and he believes the improvements will be showcased even more prominently Friday.
In position to challenge both for the WBA title worn by champion Rolly Romero and the WBC strap, which could go to Golden Boy Promotions stablemate Ryan Garcia on February 21, Curiel is pleased he shifted to Garcia.
“I needed a change,” Curiel said. “The sparring with Santillan … I feel strong and powerful. Freddie taught me a lot of things. I feel this is the place I need to be. I want to prove all my capacities and talent. I’m very excited because I can feel my dreams coming true.”
