Jesus Rojas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Jesus Manuel Rojas Diaz December 26, 1986 Caguas, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | Puerto Rican |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 33 |
| Wins | 27 |
| Wins by KO | 20 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
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.
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 edged out Rojas in 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 suggested that the fight was much closer than that. [6]
| 33 fights | 27 wins | 3 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 20 | 0 |
| By decision | 7 | 3 |
| Draws | 2 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Win | 27–3–2 (1) |  Luis Castillo Leal | TKO | 4 (10) | 05–18–2019 |  Coliseo Roger L. Mendoza, Caguas | |
| 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) | 08–11–2018 | Avalon Hollywood, Los Angeles | |
| 30 | Win | 26–1–2 (1) |  Claudio Marrero | KO | 7 (12) | 09-15–2017 | 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 | Won NABA featherweight title |
| 28 | Win | 24–1–2 (1) | Jesus A Valdez | TKO | 5 (10) | 09-17–2016 | Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas | Won vacant WBA Fedecaribe featherweight title |
| 27 | Win | 23–1–2 (1) | Kiun Evans | KO | 1 (10) | 03-19–2016 | Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo | |
| 26 | Draw | 22–1–2 (1) | Jorge Lara | TD | 6 (10) | 09–08–2015 | Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles | |
| 25 | Win | 22–1–1 (1) | Braulio Santos | UD | 8 (8) | 05-16–2015 | Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla, San Juan | |
| 24 | Win | 21–1–1 (1) | Jose Angel Beranza | UD | 10 (10) | 08–30-2014 | Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce | |
| 23 | Win | 20–1–1 (1) | Juan Carlos Pena | TKO | 6 (9) | 06-28–2014 | Sheraton Hotel, Santo Domingo | Won WBA Fedecentro super-bantamweight title |
| 22 | Win | 19–1–1 (1) | Juan Jose Beltran | KO | 1 (6) | 03-22–2014 | Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns, Ponce | |
| 21 | NC | 18–1–1 (1) | Jorge Arce | NC | 2 (10) | 06-09–2012 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas | |
| 20 | Draw | 18–1–1 | Jose Luis Araiza | MD | 8 (8) | 01-07–2012 | Diplomat Resort & Spa, Hollywood | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Miguelo Tavarez | TKO | 2 (6) | 08-06–2011 | Parque del Este, Santo Domingo | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Isaac Hidalgo | UD | 6 (6) | 03-12–2011 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 |  Reynaldo Lopez | SD | 6 (6) | 11-05–2010 | Coliseo Cosme Beitia Salamo, Catano | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Luis Angel Paneto | KO | 1 (6) | 08-28–2010 | Coliseo Ruben Viera, Las Piedras | |
| 15 | Win | 14–1 |  Richard Pitt | KO | 2 (6) | 06-04–2010 | Coliseo Rafael G Amalbert, Juncos | |
| 14 | Loss | 13–1 | Jose Angel Beranza | UD | 8 (8) | 12-06–2008 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 |  Anyetei Laryea | UD | 8 (8) | 07-26–2008 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Alex Baba | TKO | 6 (8) | 06-28–2008 | 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) | 11-10–2007 | Madison Square Garden, New York | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Baladan Trevizo | TKO | 4 (6) | 08-25–2007 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Torrence Daniels | UD | 6 (6) | Jun 9, 2007 | Madison Square Garden, New York | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 |  Ricardo Blackman | KO | 1 (6) | 05-11–2007 | 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) | 12-02–2006 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Arturo Colon | KO | 1 (4) | 09-30–2006 | Coliseo Héctor Solá Bezares, Caguas | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Jose Gonzalez | TKO | 2 (4) | 08-04–2006 | Coliseo Pedrín Zorrilla, Hato Rey | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Jose Gonzalez | TKO | 2 (4) | 04-29–2006 | Mario Morales Coliseum, Guaynabo | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Christopher Sanchez | TKO | 1 (4) | 03-04–2006 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamon | Professional debut |