March 14 fight moves one contender forward at welterweight
Arnold Barboza Jr makes his welterweight debut against Kenneth Sims Jr on March 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim. The twelve-round fight places both contenders directly into the 147-pound conversation.
Barboza, 32-1 with 11 knockouts, comes off the first loss of his career and a long rebuild. At junior welterweight he relied on volume, balance, and educated punch selection. He works behind a disciplined jab, keeps his feet under him, and builds rounds through steady combinations rather than single shots.
“I’m officially stepping back into the ring after some much needed time off,” Barboza said. “My first loss didn’t break me, it built me. Built a new team, new gym, new mindset yet still same purpose, same hunger, same goals. I heard the doubters get louder. I saw some opinions change yet nothing about me changed. This is bigger than revenge. This is the Redemption Tour.”
Sims, 22-2-1 with 8 knockouts, is a rhythm fighter. He slides in and out of range, counters off subtle pivots, and keeps his guard tight when exchanges get close. He has waited for this kind of fight, one that puts him across from a recognizable name with something to prove.
“This is a fight that I’ve been wanting for a long time. Barboza is a good fighter who’s been on the big stage, but I’ve always known that I am a better fighter than him and only wanted the chance to prove it,” Sims said. “I’ve been chasing this opportunity for years now and this is a great time for it to finally happen. This is a do or die fight for both of us, and I can’t wait to get in there and handle business on March 14.”
Pace and ring position decide this. Barboza has to claim the outside early, double and triple the jab, and keep Sims from finding a counter rhythm. Sims needs to step around the lead foot, disrupt the timing, and force Barboza to reset before the combinations start flowing.
The winner steps into real welterweight contention. The division moves quickly and does not wait on anyone. A sharp performance raises a fighter’s standing. A flat night sends him back into the pack.
The co-main brings unified minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo, 13-0 with 10 knockouts, defending his WBA, WBO and Ring titles against Jesus Haro, 13-3 with 2 knockouts. Collazo fights behind sharp punch variation and steady body work. Haro will need discipline and conditioning to survive the champion’s pace.
Undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora, 17-0 with 9 knockouts, also defends against WBA interim titleholder Viviana Ruiz Corredor, 10-2 with 5 knockouts. Fundora uses length, straight punches, and composure beyond her years. Ruiz must close distance and test her inside.
If Barboza carries his structure up in weight and holds center ring, he likely wins easy rounds. If Sims disrupts timing and makes it messy, the fight swings his way.
Date, Venue, Start Time, TV and Live Streaming
Date: March 14
Start Time: 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 a.m. UK
Streaming: DAZN
Venue: Honda Center, Anaheim
Fight card & Weights:
Arnold Barboza Jr. 146.2 lbs vs Kenneth Sims Jr. 146.6 lbs
Oscar Collazo 104.8 lbs vs Jesus Haro 103.4 lbs
Gabriela Fundora 110.9 lbs vs Viviana Ruiz 111.8 lbs
Alexis Rocha 147.4 lbs vs Joseph Diaz Jr. 147.6 lbs
Joel Iriarte 146.4 lbs vs Rock Myrthil 146.2 lbs
Cayden Griffiths 150.6 lbs vs Omar Munguia 151.8 lbs
Grant Flores 155 lbs vs Rashid Stevens 156 lbs
Fabian Guzman 159.4 lbs vs Julian Delgado 159.4 lbs
Leonardo Sanchez 130.8 lbs vs Cesar Juarez 132 lbs
Daniel Garcia 136.2 lbs vs Blas Caro 136.8 lbs