Jesús Rojas (Puerto Rican boxer)

Jesus Manuel Rojas Diaz (born December 26, 1986 in Caguas, Puerto Rico) is a Puerto Rican boxer who is the former WBA (Regular) featherweight champion.

Not to be confused with Jesús Rojas (Venezuelan boxer).
Jesus Rojas
Statistics
Real nameJesus Manuel Rojas Diaz
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
NationalityPuerto Rican
Born (1986-12-26) December 26, 1986
Caguas, Puerto Rico
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights33
Wins27
Wins by KO20
Losses3
Draws2
No contests1

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.[1][2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
32 fights 26 wins 3 losses
By knockout 19 0
By decision 7 3
Draws 2
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
32 Loss 26–3–2 (1) Xu Can UD 12 (12) 01–26–2019 Toyota Center, Houston Lost WBA (Regular) featherweight title
31 Loss 26–2–2 (1) Joseph Diaz UD 12 (12) 11–08–2018 Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles
30 Win 26–1–2 (1) Claudio Marrero KO 7 (12) 15–09–2017 MGM Grand Marquee Ballroom, Las Vegas Won WBA interim featherweight title
29 Win 25–1–2 (1) Abraham Lopez TKO 8 (10) 05–05–2017 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas Retained NABA featherweight title
28 Win 24–1–2 (1) Jesus A Valdez TKO 5 (10) 17–09–2016 Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas Won vacant WBA Fedecaribe featherweight title
27 Win 23–1–2 (1) Kiun Evans KO 1 (10) 19–03–2016 Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo Won vacant NABA featherweight title
26 Draw 22–1–2 (1) Jorge Lara TD 6 (10) 08–09–2015 Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles
25 Win 22–1–1 (1) Braulio Santos UD 8 (8) 16–05–2015 Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla, San Juan
24 Win 21–1–1 (1) Jose Angel Beranza UD 10 (10) 30–08–2014 Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
23 Win 20–1–1 (1) Juan Carlos Pena TKO 6 (9) 28–06–2014 Sheraton Hotel, Santo Domingo Won WBA Fedecentro super-bantamweight title
22 Win 19–1–1 (1) Juan Jose Beltran KO 1 (6) 22–03–2014 Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce
21 NC 18–1–1 (1) Jorge Arce NC 2 (10) 09–06–2012 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
20 Draw 18–1–1 Jose Luis Araiza MD 8 (8) 07–01–2012 Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood
19 Win 18–1 Miguelo Tavarez TKO 2 (6) 06–08–2011 Parque del Este, Santo Domingo
18 Win 17–1 Isaac Hidalgo UD 6 (6) 12–03–2011 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
17 Win 16–1 Reynaldo Lopez SD 6 (6) 05–11–2010 Coliseo Cosme Beitia Salamo, Catano
16 Win 15–1 Luis Angel Paneto KO 1 (6) 28–08–2010 Coliseo Ruben Viera, Las Piedras
15 Win 14–1 Richard Pitt KO 2 (6) 04–06–2010 Coliseo Rafael G Amalbert, Juncos
14 Loss 13–1 Jose Angel Beranza UD 8 (8) 06–12–2008 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
13 Win 13–0 Anyetei Laryea UD 8 (8) 26–07–2008 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
12 Win 12–0 Alex Baba TKO 6 (8) 28–06–2008 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas
11 Win 11–0 Andres Ledesma TKO 4 (8) 04–12–2008 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
10 Win 10–0 Carlos Diaz TKO 6 (6) 10–11–2007 Madison Square Garden, New York
9 Win 9–0 Baladan Trevizo TKO 4 (6) 25–08–2007 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon
8 Win 8–0 Torrence Daniels UD 6 (6) 09–06–2007 Madison Square Garden, New York
7 Win 7–0 Ricardo Blackman KO 1 (6) 11–05–2007 Coliseo Angel 'Cholo' Espada, Salinas
6 Win 6–0 Enrique Quevedo UD 6 (6) 03–03–2007 Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan
5 Win 5–0 Ubaldo Olivencia TKO 2 (4) 02–12–2006 Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
4 Win 4–0 Arturo Colon KO 1 (4) 30–09–2006 Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas
3 Win 3–0 Jose Gonzalez TKO 2 (4) 04–08–2006 Coliseo Pedrín Zorrilla, Hato Rey
2 Win 2–0 Jose Gonzalez TKO 2 (4) 29–04–2006 Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo
1 Win 1–0 Christopher Sanchez TKO 1 (4) 04–03–2006 Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon Professional debut

See also
  • List of featherweight boxing champions

References
  1. "Jesus Rojas KOs Claudio Marrero, claims interim featherweight belt". ESPN. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  2. "Jesús Rojas received his WBA champion belt". WBA boxing. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  3. "Joseph Diaz vs. Jesus Rojas is Now Set For WBA 'Regular' Title". Boxingscene. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  4. "Joseph Diaz Wins Tough Decision Over Jesus Rojas". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  5. "Rojas vs Xu - News, Tape, Ringwalk, TV, Streaming & Tickets". Box.Live. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  6. "Jesus Rojas Disappointed In Scoring, Calls For Xu Can Rematch". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
Achievements
Preceded by
Claudio Marrero		 WBA featherweight champion
Interim Title
September 15, 2017 – July 4, 2018
Promoted		 Vacant
Title next held by
Jhack Tepora
Vacant
Title last held by
Abner Mares		 WBA featherweight champion
Regular Title
July 4, 2018 – January 26, 2019		 Succeeded by
Xu Can
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