Arnold Barboza and Alexis Rocha dominated their respective fights March 14 and immediately positioned themselves for a bout against each other.
Barboza, 34, advanced his pro boxing record to 33-1 (11 KOs) with a lopsided unanimous decision win over Kenneth Sims atop Saturday’s Golden Boy Promotions card on DAZN at Honda Center in Anaheim, shortly after Alexis Rocha, 28, romped to a routine win over JoJo Diaz — his first win in 15 months as he battled back from injury.
Following their wins, they both commented on what they wanted next in boxing.
“Who wants to see me and Ryan Garcia in this arena?” Barboza asked on the DAZN broadcast following his win, perhaps unaware that promoter Oscar de le Hoya had said earlier that he was planning to book Garcia against Devin Haney in a lucrative rematch.
Barboza then name-checked Haney and Keyshawn Davis, too. DAZN presenter Chris Mannix then told Barboza that ‘Lex’ was in the ring. “We can do that next? You want to do it? Let’s do it,” said Barboza, shaking Rocha’s hand. “I’m down.”
“I want Ryan Garcia — that’s who I want,” Rocha said earlier, after his victory. “Also got my eye on the main event — Barboza and Sims.”
With Barboza and Rocha appearing to agree a Southern Californian derby, and Golden Boy navigating negotiations for Garcia vs Haney, it seems logical that, if both bouts get booked, then the winners could meet later in the year.
Golden Boy’s event in Anaheim contained many of their championship-level fighters and, aside from Barboza and Rocha, minimumweight world champion Oscar Collazo dominated an overmatched opponent in Jesus Haro to retain his unified titles, before calling for a rematch against Melvin Jerusalum.
Elsewhere, Gabriela Fundora enhanced her reputation as one of the most fan-friendly female fighters to watch with a masterclass of height, reach, and power over Viviana Ruiz in her undisputed flyweight championship bout, and intimated that her future could be at light flyweight.
Earlier, red hot prospect Joel Iriarte finished Rock Dodler Myrthil in the sixth round at welterweight.
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