Conah Walker vs Alexis Rocha

This is a big step up for Conah Walker, who will want to make every round physically expensive; Alexis Rocha has the southpaw combinations and body punching to make him pay for getting close. I expect plenty of exchanges, because neither bloke needs much encouragement to stand his ground.

Walker’s advantage is the pressure he can sustain when a fight gets uncomfortable. The finishes against McCormack and Eggington showed that his engine carries his punching into the later rounds. His weakness is the punishment he accepts while closing distance. He cannot keep walking straight onto Rocha’s left hand and expect his chin to solve everything.

Rocha puts his punches together well, particularly downstairs, as he showed against Ramirez. But Santillan exposed the danger of him accepting prolonged exchanges when he needs to move and reset. My reading is that Walker can force that same uncomfortable choice, although he’ll take some clean shots doing it.

I’m picking Walker by unanimous decision. Rocha’s cleaner combinations will win him spells, but I expect Walker’s body work and sustained pressure to make him the busier, stronger finisher. He’ll have to earn this one the hard way.