Jesús Rojas (Puerto Rican boxer)


Jesus Manuel Rojas Diaz is a Puerto Rican boxer who is the former WBA featherweight champion.

Professional career

After turning professional in 2006 Rojas amassed a record of 25-1-2-1 in 11 years before challenging and beating Dominican Claudio Marrero for the interim WBA featherweight title.
In July 2018 the World Boxing Association announced that Rojas has been upgraded to 'Regular champion' and that he will be making his first defense against Mexican American boxer Joseph Diaz. Diaz however, came into the fight overweight, missing the required weight limit by 0.6 pounds. According to WBA rules, this meant that Rojas gets to keep his title regardless of the outcome of the fight. Diaz would end up handing Rojas his first defeat in 10 years, by a 12-round unanimous decision.
In a fight deemed an early "fight of the year" candidate, Rojas was defending his WBA title against Chinese star and WBA #2 at featherweight Can Xu. Xu would end up edging out Rojas through a highly controversial unanimous decision. The official scorecards, 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112 were in wide favor of Xu, even though the punch output from Rojas aluded the fight was much closer than that.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
32Loss26–3–2 Xu CanUD12 01–26–2019 Toyota Center, HoustonLost WBA featherweight title
31Loss26–2–2 Joseph DiazUD12 11–08–2018 Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles
30Win26–1–2 Claudio MarreroKO7 15–09–2017 MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Las VegasWon WBA interim featherweight title
29Win25–1–2 Abraham LopezTKO8 05–05–2017 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las VegasRetained NABA featherweight title
28Win24–1–2 Jesus A ValdezTKO5 17–09–2016 Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, CaguasWon vacant WBA Fedecaribe featherweight title
27Win23–1–2 Kiun EvansKO1 19–03–2016 Mario Morales Coliseum, GuaynaboWon vacant NABA featherweight title
26Draw22–1–2 Jorge LaraTD6 08–09–2015 Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles
25Win22–1–1 Braulio SantosUD8 16–05–2015 Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla, San Juan
24Win21–1–1 Jose Angel BeranzaUD10 30–08–2014 Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
23Win20–1–1 Juan Carlos PenaTKO6 28–06–2014 Sheraton Hotel, Santo DomingoWon WBA Fedecentro super-bantamweight title
22Win19–1–1 Juan Jose BeltranKO1 22–03–2014 Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
2118–1–1 Jorge ArceNC2 09–06–2012 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
20Draw18–1–1 Jose Luis AraizaMD8 07–01–2012 Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood
19Win18–1 Miguelo TavarezTKO2 06–08–2011 Parque del Este, Santo Domingo
18Win17–1 Isaac HidalgoUD6 12–03–2011 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
17Win16–1 Reynaldo LopezSD6 05–11–2010 Coliseo Cosme Beitia Salamo, Catano
16Win15–1 Luis Angel PanetoKO1 28–08–2010 Coliseo Ruben Viera, Las Piedras
15Win14–1 Richard PittKO2 04–06–2010 Coliseo Rafael G Amalbert, Juncos
14Loss13–1 Jose Angel BeranzaUD8 06–12–2008 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
13Win13–0 Anyetei LaryeaUD8 26–07–2008 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
12Win12–0 Alex BabaTKO6 28–06–2008 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas
11Win11–0 Andres LedesmaTKO4 04–12–2008 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
10Win10–0 Carlos DiazTKO6 10–11–2007 Madison Square Garden, New York
9Win9–0 Baladan TrevizoTKO4 25–08–2007 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon
8Win8–0 Torrence DanielsUD6 09–06–2007 Madison Square Garden, New York
7Win7–0 Ricardo BlackmanKO1 11–05–2007 Coliseo Angel 'Cholo' Espada, Salinas
6Win6–0 Enrique QuevedoUD6 03–03–2007 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
5Win5–0 Ubaldo OlivenciaTKO2 02–12–2006 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
4Win4–0 Arturo ColonKO1 30–09–2006 Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
3Win3–0 Jose GonzalezTKO2 04–08–2006 Coliseo Pedrín Zorrilla, Hato Rey
2Win2–0 Jose GonzalezTKO2 29–04–2006 Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo
1Win1–0 Christopher SanchezTKO1 04–03–2006 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, BayamonProfessional debut