Categories: Sports

Alexis Rocha hospitalized, forced to withdraw from Friday’s Raul Curiel rematch

Boxing didn’t take long to deliver its first disappointment of 2026.

The much-anticipated welterweight rematch between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel has been canceled, sources close to the situation told Uncrowned.

Rocha and Curiel fought to a draw in their December 2024 Fight of the Year contender, with the pair set to renew hostilities on Friday at the Acrisure Arena at Greater Palm Springs in Palm Desert, California.

However, Rocha has been forced to withdraw from the rematch less than 36 hours out of the pair’s scheduled DAZN headliner.

Rocha was hospitalized Thursday due to an undisclosed medical issue, although it is understood to be a result of — or affected by — Rocha’s weight cut to 147 pounds for his rematch with Curiel.

Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions is searching for a replacement opponent to keep Curiel on the card, so the event can continue Friday.

Elsewhere on the card, Manuel Flores and Jorge Chavez will clash in a super bantamweight rematch. Top prospect Joel Iriarte steps up to face Jireh De Los Santos, super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez returns versus Byron Rojas, and Uzbek world championship gold medalist Ruslan Abdullaev faces off against Eduardo Javier Abreu.

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