By Jack Walsh
ALEXIS Rocha outclassed Santiago Dominguez over 10 rounds final night time of their welterweight matchup. Rocha claimed a unanimous determination win by scores of 99-91 (twice) and 98-92, selecting up the vacant WBO-NABO championship.
Headlining on the Fantasy Springs On line casino in Indio, California, Rocha’s pace and constant ring tenacity proved tough to resist for Dominguez.
Within the first two rounds, each fighters got here out comparatively scorching, touchdown laborious flurries, counters and hooks to the physique in a fast-paced battle.
Spherical three appeared to be when the brand new and improved southpaw Rocha showcased his revamped battle fashion. Boxing on his again foot, flustering Dominguez with dodges and counters whereas additionally using his jab.
Twice within the spherical, Dominguez claimed low blows from what have been truly simply slamming belt-line physique pictures. Rocha was constant in touchdown damaging physique pictures all through the battle, which left Dominguez wincing at instances.
Shifting ahead, Rocha managed the tempo and actually regarded like a distinct fighter than we’ve beforehand seen. His fixed combos and completely timed counters continued to land within the center and late rounds. Rocha, 27, wasn’t forcing pictures or combating on the ropes as a lot as he normally does.
After attacking, Rocha would pivot out of bother again, towards the center of the ring, earlier than Dominguez may unleash his urgent energy — combating at an angle.
Dominguez was not helpless within the ring, although, tagging Rocha a handful of instances all through the whole lot of the 10-round bout.
It was evident that Rocha deliberate to battle technically and field fairly than simply commerce pictures, which he confirmed with DAZN within the post-fight interview.
He additionally acknowledged that he nonetheless believes he’s on the verge of a possible world title battle. That is Rocha’s second win since a dangerous sixth-round loss to Giovani Santillan. In March, Alexis pressured Fredrick Lawson to retire previous to the eighth spherical.
Rocha (ranked #9 by the WBO coming in) improved to 25-2 (16 KOs), whereas Dominguez (#11) tallied his first skilled defeat, falling to 27-1 (20 KOs).