Alexis Rocha Now Headlines January 28th Golden Boy Card

Welterweight Alexis Rocha (21-1, 13 KOs), 25, of Santa Ana, California, will face Anthony “Juice” Young (24-2, 8 KOs), 34, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, in the DAZN main event on Jan. 28 (8 p.m. ET), Golden Boy Promotions announced on Friday.

The card will kick off Golden Boy’s 2023 schedule and will be the first boxing show at the new 6,000-seat YouTube Theater, which is part of the SoFi Stadium complex in Inglewood, California.

‼️JUST ANNOUNCED‼️@AlexisRocha777 headlines the 👉 1st ever boxing event👈 at @youtubetheater on 1/28 and will defend his NABO welterweight title 🆚 @juice_money11.

Also on the card:
⭐ @KidAustin11
⭐ Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo
⭐ and @BMelikuziev

🎟️ on sale 1/11 #RochaYoung pic.twitter.com/4Odk3JUAPr

— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) January 6, 2023

Initially, junior welterweight star Ryan Garcia was supposed to face Mercito Gesta in the main event of a Golden Boy card on Jan. 28 as a warm-up for a planned April 15 showdown with Gervonta “Tank” Davis, but when Garcia opted to forego the bout and wait for the big fight, Golden Boy still wanted to put on a show with many fighters to keep active. Ultimately, Golden Boy was able to work things out with DAZN for a new main event while also finding a venue.

“Jan. 28th marks my first fight of 2023 and a fight that will set the stage for my best year yet,” Rocha said. “I have patiently worked to reach the point of being the main event on a major card and now I’m here. 2022 provided its challenges, as I had to overcome a hand injury, but it made me stronger. I can’t wait to start the year with a knockout victory”

Young accepted the fight earlier this week.

“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to perform on this platform,” Young said.

In the co-feature, blue-chip lightweight prospect Floyd Schofield (12-0, 10 KOs), 20, of Austin, Texas, will face Alberto Mercado (17-4-1, 4 KOs), 34, of Puerto Rico, in a 10-rounder.

Also on the main card:

· Puerto Ricans Oscar Collazo (5-0, 3 KOs), 25, and former WBO strawweight titlist Wilfredo “Bimbito” Mendez (18-2, 6 KOs), 26, will square off in a WBO title eliminator.

· Super middleweight Bektemir “Bully” Melikuziev (10-1, 8 KOs), 26, an Uzbekistan native based in Indio, California, will face an opponent to be determined in a 10-rounder.