Big-time boxing returns to Anaheim this weekend as Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy promotes Arnold Barboza Jr (32-1) vs Kenneth Sims Jr (22-3-1).
Sims Jr marks Barboza Jr’s first test following a unanimous decision defeat last time out.
The 34-year-old was outclassed last time out as he took on Teofimo Lopez for his WBO super lightweight crown.
He was outpointed on all three judges’ scorecards, with two seeing it 112-116 and the third ruling it 110-118.
Lopez vs Barboza Jr took place on the historic Times Square card in May last year.
After over nine months out, he returns for the first time, this time at welterweight.
Barboza Jr last fought at welterweight in 2019, where he forced Ricky Sismundo to retire in the fourth round.
Since moving to super lightweight, the 34-year-old picked up some impressive wins against Sean McComb, Jose Carlos Ramirez and Jack Catterall.
His opponent, Sims Jr, is no pushover despite having three losses on his record.
Sims Jr himself comes off a loss last time out as he was beaten via majority decision against Oscar Duarte Jurado in August.
Prior to the loss last time out, ‘Bossman’ was on a nice run of form with nine wins on the spin.
Prediction: Barboza Jr should have more than enough to get a nod on the cards in a competitive clash at welterweight.
Oscar Collazo vs Jesus Haro
In the co-main event, one of the most exciting stars in the lower weight divisions is back in action.
Oscar Collazo (13-0) comes into the clash unbeaten with an impressive 77% knockout ratio against Jesus Haro (13-3).
He was last in action in September where he picked up a statement victory over Jayson Vayson, who he stopped in the seventh.
Collazo has held his WBO minimumweight world title since May 2023, where he forced Melvin Jerusalem to retire on his stool after round seven.
23-year-old Haro fights for a world title for the first time in his career, so will be looking to cause an upset.
He lost on his debut via split decision and has been defeated twice since in the last five years.
Despite the losses, Haro has as many wins as Collazo coming into the contest.
He comes off a fourth-round knockout victory over Jaime Guevara in May 2025.
Prediction: Collazo should pick up his 11th career stoppage and will prove to be too much for the 23-year-old.
Gabriela Fundora vs Viviana Ruiz Corredor
Undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela Fundora (17-0) is back in action on Saturday against Viviana Ruiz Corredor (10-2).
She puts all of her belts on the line against Ruiz Corredor.
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Fundora is on a remarkable run of 17 victories since her professional debut in 2021.
She picked up her first world title just two years on from her debut in 2023 when she stopped Arely Mucino in the fifth round.
‘Sweet Poison’ comes into this weekend’s fight on a run of three stoppage victories on the spin, all coming in the seventh.
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At just 23 years old, Fundora is one of the brightest stars in the sport and may look to challenge at multiple weight classes in the future.
Prediction: She should have more than enough to pick up a fourth stoppage in a row against Corredor, who has never been finished before the final bell.
Remaining undercard
Elsewhere on the card, former world title challenger Alexis Rocha (25-2-1) faces experienced campaigner Joseph Diaz (34-8-1) in a welterweight clash where Rocha will be expected to have enough over ten rounds.
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A number of unbeaten prospects also feature, with Joel Iriarte (9-0) looking to maintain his perfect record against Rock Dodler Myrthil (17-2-1), while Fabian Guzman (9-0) should also be favoured to extend his unbeaten run when he takes on Julian Delgado (9-1).
Daniel Garcia (12-0) meets Blas Ezequiel Caro (12-9) in a light heavyweight bout and will likely be confident of keeping his record intact, while Cayden Griffiths (7-0) faces Omar Ulises Gutierrez Munguia (8-2-1) and Grant Flores (12-0) takes on Rashid Stevens (6-1-2) as several Golden Boy prospects look to impress on the undercard.
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