Alexis Rocha will tackle his largest danger but whereas ready out a title shot.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the streaking contender will subsequent face unbeaten welterweight Giovani Santillan. A date and site should not but set for the intriguing bout, although it’s focused for a October 21 present in Southern California the place each boxers are primarily based in addition to Golden Boy Promotions’ headquarters.
It stays unclear if an interim title will probably be made out there. Each boxers are rated within the prime 5 of the WBO’s most up-to-date welterweight rankings—Santillan is primary, whereas Rocha is the number-one and necessary contender.
Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (40-0, 31KOs) is the division’s undisputed champion however is prone to take a extra high-profile struggle for his subsequent outing.
The settlement in place comes with no confirmed televised date. It can seemingly headline a DAZN present however that half was not but finalized, Boxing Scene has realized. Rocha frequently fights on DAZN via Golden Boy’s take care of the streaming service; Santillan fights for Prime Rank and is managed by David McWater.
The struggle will mark the third ring look of 2023 for the lively Rocha (23-1, 15KOs), in addition to his seventh struggle in simply over two years following his lone profession defeat.
The 26-year-old southpaw from Santa Ana headlined a pair of DAZN exhibits whereas ready out his due shot on the WBO title. He scored a spotlight reel, seventh-round knockout of George Ashie on January 28 atop the primary ever boxing occasion at what was a sold-out YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. Rocha was initially attributable to face Anthony Younger, whom he would struggle and cease inside of 5 rounds on Might 28 in Indio, California.
Santillan (31-0, 16KOs) ended an eleven-month unwelcomed ring absence with a ten-round factors win over Erick Bone this previous July 22 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
The 31-year-old southpaw from San Diego has loved a gradual rise via the ranks though his two most notable wins have been each met with delicate criticism over the ultimate end result. His June 2020 majority determination over former light-weight titlist Antonio DeMarco might have simply gone the opposite means, whereas a ten-round, unanimous determination over then-unbeaten Julio Luna was rightly criticized for a pair of 100-90 scores in a really aggressive struggle.
Rocha has gained seven straight since an October 2020 defeat to Rashidi Ellis when each have been prospects. He has since emerged because the top-rated challenger to the WBO welterweight title. Nevertheless, he was compelled to go one other route when it was realized that Crawford agreed to phrases for a superfight with Errol Spence (28-1, 22KOs) for the undisputed championship.
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox