Avila Perspective Chap 360 Southern Cal Boxing Wars Resume

Avila Perspective Chap 360 Southern Cal Boxing Wars Resume

By David A. Avila

For over a century Southern California has been a hot spot for professional prizefighting with the likes of Jack Johnson, Tommy Burns, Sam Langford and Sollie Smith all stepping in prize rings in Los Angeles, Glendale and Vernon during the early 1900s.

Here we are 126 years later and boxing remains sizzling hot in Southern California.

Welterweights Alexis Rocha (25-2-1) and Raul Curiel (16-0-1) lead off the year 2026 when they meet on Friday Jan. 16, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions fight card.

Curiel and Rocha return to settle the question of the true victor. They fought each other on December 2024 and brought fans one of the best fights of that year. It ended in a majority draw after 12 savage rounds.  

DAZN analyst Sergio Mora, a former world champion, called it “a Mexican slugfest.”

Rocha, 28, is a southpaw slugger out of the Santa Ana, Calif. area where he was mentored by Hector Lopez who also trained his half brother Ronny Rios. I remember attending Rocha’s pro debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. where he easily won by knockout. 

Curiel, 30, is a former Olympian from Mexico who made his pro debut on the undercard of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at Las Vegas, Nevada in May 2017. He won by majority decision. He is managed by Frank Espinoza who also handles Oscar Valdez and formerly managed the late great Israel Vazquez.  

“There was no rematch clause I just want to fight the best,” said Curiel. “I promised a war. It was an exciting fight.”

Both are boxer-punchers with Rocha having more experience as a headliner. Curiel has navigated through the ranks carefully by his management and is now ready to tangle with welterweight contenders. 

“I was supposed to fight on April 19 (2025) with Curiel,” said Rocha. “But I had an injury. That’s why I didn’t fight in 2025.”

This is a crossroads fight between Rocha and Curiel to see who crosses the bridge into a welterweight world title match. The NABF title winner is their ticket to world title dreams. 

Curiel said he needs a knockout to win.

“We already pleased the fans. I need a knockout to win,” said Curiel. “It’s a possible Fight of the Year.”

Rocha doesn’t think it’s possible for Curiel to win by knockout.

“He didn’t even hurt me the first time, I don’t think he has the power to knock me out,” said Rocha to TV reporter Beto Duran. “I just feel I’m the better fighter.”

Also, another rematch finds Manny “Gucci” Flores (20-1-1) and Jorge Chavez (14-0-1) returning to determine who is the superior fighter. The two super bantams faced each other this past July in nearby Indio, Calif. and after 10 back and forth exciting rounds ended in a majority draw. 

Both felt they won.

Flores, 27, is the local hero who lives in Coachella. The southpaw slugger trains under the brothers Joel and Antonio Diaz. 

Chavez, 25, fights out of San Diego and has not tasted defeat as a pro. 

Their first encounter was an exciting display of changing tactics and determination. They will be joined on the boxing card by young firebrands Joel Iriarte, Cayden Griffiths and Ruslan Abdullaev among others.  

Fighting in the desert is nothing new for those under the Golden Boy banner. Most of their pugilists have participated in bouts held in nearby Indio or train in the desert. Doors open at Friday at noon. First bout is set for 1 p.m.

Saturday at Soboba

Speaking of the desert, on Saturday Jan. 17, another boxing card features more of the best talent in the region. Undefeated featherweight Alberto Gonzalez (15-0) meets Franklin Gonzalez (25-4) at Soboba Casino. Bash TV will stream the House of Pain So. California Boxing card.

It’s loaded with top prospects from the Top Rank stable and other promoters. One fight in particular that fans of women’s boxing should heed is the return of undefeated Chelsey Anderson. 

Orange County’s Anderson (8-0) meets Alejandra Rojas (5-3-2) in a lightweight bout set for six rounds. Anderson should be contending for a world title and could be if she passes by Rojas at Soboba Casino.

The casino is located in San Jacinto near Gilman Springs an area that has significant boxing history attached. Some of the greatest fighters of the past trained at Gilman Springs including Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Jerry Quarry and Archie Moore. 

During the early 2000s boxing cards regularly occurred at Soboba Casino when it was still inside a tent. Top Rank, Goossen Tutor Promotions and Espinoza Promotions held regular boxing cards at the outside venue. Despite temperatures reaching 32 degrees in the winter and 115 degrees in the summer, fans would flock to the casino to watch the boxing events. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the boxing card.

Today, Soboba Casino is a luxurious casino and has grown into a local jewel. The tribe has always favored boxing and during the past year has re-engaged in presenting pro boxing to the public.

Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas

Golden Boy Promotions announced the WBC welterweight title fight between champion Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 Kos) and contender Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 Kos) is official and will take place on Feb. 21, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fights to Watch (Pacific Time)

Fri. DAZN 5 p.m. Alexis Rocha (25-2-1) vs Raul Curiel (16-0-1)

Sat. BashTV ppv  5 p.m. Alberto Gonzalez (15-0) vs Franklin Gonzalez (25-4).

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