Raul Curiel isn’t really interested in moral victories. There was satisfaction in going 12 hard rounds for the first time in his career in his previous meeting with Alexis Rocha. The two fought to a draw in their highly entertaining December 2024 welterweight clash in Ontario, California. Naturally, both boxers felt they deserved the nod.
None of the three judges agreed with Curiel’s take on the matter, though two had the fight dead even to produce the majority draw.
Curiel left the ring with his unbeaten record still intact, but also the dissatisfaction of not finishing what he started.
“I’m not happy with the draw. Personally, I thought I won,” Curiel told BoxingScene. “But I watched that fight so many times and saw the things I could’ve done [better]. No excuses from that night, I know what went wrong and what I had to fix. My focus wasn’t where it needed to be, but I’m feeling real good now.
“I have the capacity to make a big statement. I can’t let this go to the judges again. I am coming for the knockout. I know for a fact I’m going to win. He won’t hear the final bell.”
Guadalajara’s Curiel, 16-0-1 (14 KOs), and Rocha, 25-2-1 (16 KOs) – who hails from Southern California - will run it back this Friday atop a DAZN show from Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California.
Part two will feature a new look corner for Curiel, who switched from Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club to the teachings of Robert Garcia, the reigning Trainer of the Year and a former IBF 130lbs titlist.
The addition of Garcia adds to an already all-star team for Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and – like Rocha – is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. The two have already clicked, and Curiel insists he will enter the ring as a brand new – and more complete – fighter.
“The biggest thing I noticed is that my confidence is all the way back,” insisted the hard-hitting 30-year-old contender. “At Wild Card, they helped me out a lot. Freddie taught me a lot of things. But I felt like I was stuck in my comfort zone. Personally, I knew that I needed more work. I’m a Mexican fighter, I want to improve the Mexican style.
“With Robert, that’s the primary style they’ve taught me. Everything is just connecting and I feel ready.”
Curiel had never previously gone more than 10 rounds prior to his first meeting with Rocha. He’d only been the distance twice before – his May 2017 pro debut which was four rounds, and a September 2018 six-round points win.
That said, he’s repeatedly showing that he’s built to last. Curiel has five knockouts that occurred in the 7th round or later – all five which took place over a seven-fight span.
The draw with Rocha halted a 10-fight knockout streak. He resumed his explosive ways in a 4th round stoppage of unbeaten Victor Rodriguez last June 28 in Anaheim, California.
Friday’s objective is generally to win, but Curiel is also driven by the desire to immediately challenge for one of the major titles at welterweight. There are four titleholders from which to choose, though a roadblock in the way of each. IBF titlist Lewis Crocker, 22-0 (11 KOs), and WBA titleholder Rolando Romero, 17-2 (13 KOs), are both pressed with mandatory title defenses, while WBC beltholder Mario Barrios, 29-2-2 (18 KOs) is set for a February 21 showdown with Ryan Garcia.
Three-division titlist Devin Haney, 32-0 (15 KOs), holds the WBO belt and is the division’s only titlist without a current commitment.
All that remains moot for the moment, anyway. There remains a piece of business that Curiel felt he should’ve settled 13 months ago, and again when the two were on target to rematch last spring. An injury and subsequent surgery kept Rocha out of the ring for all of 2025, but is now firmly in the sights of one of the division’s promising talents.
“Right now, I don’t care about anyone else’s name in the welterweight division. Of course, I know all of the best welterweights. I’ve sparred with many of them in past camps. My focus is on Alexis Rocha. After that, we’ll look into the possibility of fighting those other guys. Right now, I need to get Alexis Rocha out of my way.
