Golden Boy Promotions has announced that its 2026 boxing schedule will begin with a series of high-profile rematches, headlined by NABO Welterweight Champion Alexis “Lex” Rocha and NABF Welterweight Champion Raul “El Cugár” Curiel. The event is set for Friday, January 16, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, and will be broadcast globally on DAZN.
The main event features Rocha and Curiel meeting again after their previous bout ended in a draw. Rocha stated, “January 16th isn’t a new fight, it’s Round 13. Curiel and I left something unfinished, and this time I’m not stopping until there’s no doubt left in anyone’s mind. He’s going to feel everything I’ve carried since that night. At Acrisure Arena, I’m ending this story — permanently.”
Curiel expressed his anticipation for the match: “I am very excited to continue to build my legacy, be able to fight and continue this boxing saga. I am filled with emotions knowing that I will represent Mexico and my hometown of Tampico.”
Oscar De La Hoya, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, commented on the significance of the event: “We’re kicking off our 2026 fight calendar with the kind of high-impact, high-stakes rematches fans demanded we run back. January 16 will bring classic Golden Boy excitement and showcase the Coachella Valley’s next generation of stars we’ve been shaping from the ground up.”
Tickets go on sale Friday, November 21 at 10 a.m. PT through Ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $25 to $200 before service charges. There are also limited Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets available that include exclusive merchandise and upgrades.
The undercard includes another anticipated rematch between Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores from Coachella Valley and Jorge “El Niño Dorado” Chavez from Tijuana in a super bantamweight contest scheduled for ten rounds.
Flores said about his upcoming appearance: “I feel blessed to be making an appearance in this new arena. I am ready to showcase in this rematch that we are on different levels.”
Chavez responded: “Everyone knows I won our last fight. Manuel knows this, the fans know this, his team knows this and more importantly I know this. Now it’s my job to take this out of the judges’ hands and to show Manuel once and for all who the real winner is between us.”
Rocha comes into the rematch following a majority draw against Curiel at Toyota Arena in December 2024; prior to that he regained his NABO title with a win over Santiago Dominguez after losing it briefly in October 2023.
Curiel recently secured a stoppage victory over Victor Rodriguez during a WBA title eliminator on the Jake Paul vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. card at Honda Center—a performance marking his debut under trainer Robert Garcia—and holds top-15 rankings across major sanctioning bodies while remaining undefeated as a professional.
Flores fought Chavez to a majority draw earlier at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino but has since built momentum with five consecutive knockout wins after suffering one loss in June 2023.
Chavez maintains an unbeaten record since turning professional in November 2021; he trains alongside Alexis Rocha under Hector Lopez in Santa Ana.
