The number-one contender in the WBO welterweight rankings, Alexis Rocha, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, had a stellar holiday weekend as he stopped Anthony Young in the fifth round of their main event fight in Indio, California, broadcast on DAZN. For Rocha, this was a long time coming, as he was scheduled to face Young in January, but Young pulled out of the bout late, as Rocha was able to record a highlight-reel KO of late-replacement Georgie Ashie in January.
Rocha is one of the most active fighters in the sport at the highest level, despite being in a division that seems to move far too slowly. After his win, Rocha let it be known he wants the winner of the July 29th bout between Errol Spence Jr., and Terence Crawford.
“I knew [Anthony Young] was going to come in with the same energy he did when he fought Sadam Ali, and I was ready for that,” said Alexis Rocha. “I want the winner of the Spence-Crawford fight, and I am confident with the help of my amazing promoter, Golden Boy and Oscar De La Hoya, we’ll make it happen.”
The elephant in the room is obvious. Rocha is a welterweight and promoted by the same promoter, as the rising star in the welterweight division, Vergil Ortiz. When asked about a future fight between the two, Rocha explained that he sees the bout happening, but believes they are currently taking different paths to the world title.
It appears Rocha is targeting a WBO welterweight world title shot, with Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr., now fighting on July 29th, which means that all four of the titles will be defended in that bout. Once the smoke clears, Rocha is hoping to cash in on his WBO welterweight world title shot, and it appears that if he were to fight Ortiz it could be a unification bout. Ortiz will fight Eimantas Stanionis for the secondary version of the WBA welterweight world title on July 8th.
It appears Rocha might foresee a future unification bout, with himself and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
“It is a very fan-friendly fight to make, especially with Golden Boy [Promotions],” said Rocha, alluding that he and Ortiz share the same promoter. “It will draw lots of attention, I have to focus on my thing, and I know, Vergil is focusing on his thing, and like I said in the future we can get it on.”
