Welterweight contender Alexis Rocha is scheduled to face Giovani Santillan in his toughest test Saturday in California.
ALEXIS ROCHA (23-1, 15 KOs) VS.
GIOVANI SANTILLAN (31-0, 16 KOs)
ALEXIS ROCHA ENDS IT
#RochaYoung pic.twitter.com/ExXdATCVEB
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 28, 2023
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Kia Forum, Inglewood, California
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
- At stake: No major title
- Odds: Rocha 4½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Pound-for-pound: None
- Also on the card: John Ramirez vs. Ronal Batista, junior bantamweights; Joseph Diaz vs. Richard Medina, lightweights; Arely Mucino vs. Gabriela Fundora, flyweights (for Mucino’s IBF title); Ricardo Sandoval vs. Victor Sandoval, flyweights
- Prediction: Rocha UD
- Background: Rocha is closing in on his first title shot but must get past the unbeaten Santillan first. The 26-year-old from the Los Angeles area, ranked No. 1 by the WBO, has won seven consecutive fights since slick Rashidi Ellis defeated him by a unanimous decision in October 2020. He’s coming off a fifth-round knockout of solid Anthony Young on May 27. Santillan could be Rocha’s toughest test yet. The 31-year-old from San Diego last fought on July 22, when he defeated capable Erick Bone by a clear unanimous decision. This matchup also is a step up in opposition for Santillan. Terence Crawford holds all four major 147-pound titles.
