Christian Medina will return to the ring a week later than expected but still with a homecoming title defense in tow.

BoxingScene has confirmed that the recently crowned WBO 118lbs titlist is set to risk his belt against countryman and former 108lbs titlist Adrian Curiel. Their 12-round title fight will headline a February 6 DAZN/ESPN Knockout show from an arena to be named in Jalisco, Mexico.

ESPN Knockout’s Salvador “Chava” Rodriguez was the first to report the matchup.

Guadalajara, Mexico’s Medina, 26-4 (19 KOs) will attempt the first defense of the title he claimed in an upset knockout win over then-unbeaten titlist Yoshiki Takei, 11-1 (9 KOs). “Chispa” floored Takei in the opening round and ultimately forced a stoppage in the fourth round of their September 14 clash on the Naoya Inoue-Murodjon Akhmadaliev undercard at IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan.

The win came just a few hours after Guadalajara ring legend Saul “Canelo” Alvarez suffered a 12-round unanimous decision defeat to Terence “Bud” Crawford in Las Vegas.

Medina’s big road win is now rewarded with a local showing for his first title defense.

Earlier plans teased a potential January 31 fight date, before event handlers firmed up the details to go one week later.

Curiel, 26-6-1 (5 KOs), has won each of his past two starts after suffering back-to-back defeats in 2024.

A 26-year-old from Ecatepec de Morelo, Mexico, Curiel previously held the IBF 108lbs belt, which he claimed in a stunning first-round knockout of Sivenathi Nontshinga in November 2023 in Monaco. His title stay lasted just 104 days, as he lost the belt via 10th-round knockout in their terrific February 2024 heater in Oaxaca, Mexico.

The fight was the last at junior flyweight for Curiel, who moved up to flyweight.

His first fight at the weight saw the scrappy former titlist’s roughhouse tactics frustrate former IBF 112lbs titlist Sunny Edwards throughout their truncated June 2024 affair in Phoenix. Curiel lost via technical decision before adding a pair of 10-round points wins.

In his most recent start, Curiel defeated Johan Rubio via unanimous decision last May 30 at Domo Alcade in Guadalajara. The same show housed Medina’s final non-title win before he challenged for – and violently snatched – Takei’s title.

Medina’s first title defense also comes on the heels of a current five-fight win streak, all inside the distance. His previous defeat came in an August 2023 title eliminator against Ryosuke Nishida, who claimed a unanimous decision win and went on to win the IBF 118lbs title.

After years of Japan enjoying a stranglehold on the 118lbs division, Medina’s win helped kick off a new trend. He was later joined by countryman and BXSTRS promotional roster mate Jose Salas among Mexico’s newest titleholders. Salas won the vacant IBF bantamweight title in a December 13 stoppage victory over Landile Ngxeke in Mexico City.

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.

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