Raul Curiel Wins UD Over Jordan Panthen in Main Event

Raul Curiel preserved his undefeated record Friday night with a unanimous decision victory over replacement opponent Jordan Panthen in the 10-round main event of a Golden Boy Promotions card at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.

The Mexican fighter, competing at junior middleweight after moving up from welterweight on short notice, outboxed Panthen over the distance to earn scores of 97-93 twice and 98-92 from the judges. Curiel, now 17-0-1 with 14 knockouts, improved his standing in the welterweight division, where he holds rankings of third by the World Boxing Association, fifth by the World Boxing Council, seventh by the International Boxing Federation and 12th by the World Boxing Organization.

Panthen, who entered with an 11-2 record and nine knockouts, stepped in after Alexis Rocha withdrew earlier in the day due to medical issues stemming from a difficult weight cut that led to his hospitalization. The original matchup was set as a rematch following the fighters' majority decision draw on December 14, 2024. To accommodate the change, the bout weight was raised to 158 pounds, 11 pounds above the welterweight limit, with Panthen elevated from an undercard...