Alexis Rocha vs Raul Curiel Predictions: Welter belter with it all to lose

Raul Curiel meets Alexis Rocha this Saturday, December 14 at the Toyota Arena in Ontario. DAZN will broadcast the fight live, headlining a card that also features super welterweight prospect Charles Conwell against Gerardo Vergara. 

Here are my Curiel vs Rocha predictions ahead of this welterweight 10-rounder.

This is a massive step-up for the 15-0 Curiel, who goes in with a highly-ranked world contender for the first time. ‘Cugar’ has looked good so far, amassing 13 knockouts and rising into the world rankings himself on the back of some spectacular displays.

Last time out he blitzed Jorge Marron Jr in one round, the quickest stoppage of his career. Curiel is likely to find the wily Rocha far more resistant however. ‘Lex’ has been a dangerous opponent for hot prospects before.

The likes of Adrien Broner-conqueror Blair Cobbs and 27-fight-unbeaten Santiago Dominguez have had their records blemished by Rocha. This is a fighter who won’t go quietly and certainly doesn’t accept the designation as “opponent”.

That adeptness at disrupting a rising star accounts for Rocha’s status as a slight favourite here. The evens-bet on a victory shows the quality of the man from Santa Ana. It also shows the strength of Curiel’s will to take on such a task.

Curiel is a 2016 Olympian but it has been a gradual rise since his pro debut in 2017. Now he is headlining a big card in Ontario knowing that a win will rocket him up the welterweight rankings. Curiel currently sits 10th in the IBF reckoning and 14th in the WBO list. Rocha is ranked by everyone except the WBA, with his highest rating being 2nd position with the WBO. If Curiel pulls this off, his profile and standing in the sport will rocket.

That is no mean feat though. Only two men have defeated ‘Lex’. Rashidi ‘Speedy’ Ellis and recent title challenger Giovanni Santillan are the only two losses on his 27-fight record. Make no mistake, you have to be good to beat this guy.

Rocha does not fear underdog status and he is certainly in with more than a fighting chance in this bout. Will his greater experience tell? Or will Curiel extend his fine record to 16-0 and make a real assault on the world scene in 2025? It’s well-poised this one. A pre-Christmas cracker, if you will.

Curiel vs Rocha Fight Odds

23/20 is your price for a Rocha win while Curiel comes in at 7/10. If you fancy the draw it’s 14/1.

Curiel vs Rocha Full Card

Alexis Rocha vs. Raul Curiel 

Charles Conwell vs. Gerardo Luis Vergara 

John Ramirez vs. Ephraim Bui 

Marlen Esparza vs. Arely Mucino 

Victor Morales vs. Jose Ivan Guardado Ortiz

Curiel vs Rocha Predictions

Tough to split these two. That parity should make for a good fight. I think Curiel does enough but this could well be the hardest fight of his career. 7/10 if you fancy following me into battle.

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