Welterweights Collide at Galen Center in Los Angeles

By Tarrah Zael

(Photo by Al Applerose

LOS ANGELES-Expect the unexpected when it comes to prizefighting.

After one welterweight clash disappeared, another rose up and it’s a doozy.

Southern California’s Alexis Rocha (18-1, 12 Kos) versus Blair Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 Kos) moves up from semi to main event on Saturday March 19, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions fight card.

One more thing: British fighter Michael McKinson (21-0, 2 Kos) found another adversary and remains on the card.

“The show goes on,” said McKinson who was slated to fight Vergil Ortiz Jr. who needed to pull out for medical reasons. Now the British pugilist from Portsmouth, England is back on the card. “Now I’m the big dog as Cobbs said.”

What McKinson referred to was a comment by Cobbs saying that he wanted to fight the star welterweights. It was a stamp of legitimacy by American welterweights.

“I’m well prepared for anyone,” said McKinson.

The bumped up main event needed little boosting at the press conference on Thursday. When both were placed on the same stage they eyed each other with a look of malice that you might see between a cobra and a mongoose.

The words were even more harsh but only action will determine the winner.

“I’m the baddest man in the world, in the planet,” said Cobbs.

Rocha wasn’t impressed

“You’re acting like a clown here and there. Let’s remember Blair. Just like there’s clowns in the circus, there’s also lions and tigers there too,” Rocha said.

It’s a strong card with the first bout beginning at

Doors open at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

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