It didn’t take long for boxing to experience its first disappointment of 2026.
The highly anticipated welterweight rematch between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel has been canceled, according to people familiar with the matter.
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Rocha and Courier, who fought to a draw in December 2024’s Fight of the Year, will resume hostilities on Friday at the Acrisure Arena in Grand Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California.
However, less than 36 hours before the pair were scheduled to headline DAZN, Rocha was forced to withdraw from the rematch.
Rocha was hospitalized Thursday with an undisclosed medical issue, but it is understood to be a result or effect of Rocha’s weight loss to 147 pounds for the rematch with Courier.
Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions are looking for a replacement opponent to retain Curiel so the event can go ahead on Friday.
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Elsewhere on the card, Manuel Flores and Jorge Chavez clash in a super bantamweight rematch. Top prospect Joel Iriarte takes on Jireh De Los Santos, super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez returns to face Byron Rojas, and Uzbek world championship gold medalist Ruslan Abdullayev Abdullaev vs. Eduardo Javier Abreu.
