Arnold Barboza Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. Face Off in Welterweight Clash

The fighters look to rebound from recent defeats and move up the 147-pound ranks

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:20pm

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Arnold Barboza Jr. and Kenneth Sims Jr. will meet in a welterweight bout on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 KOs) is coming off his first professional loss against Teofimo Lopez, while Sims Jr. (22-3-1, 8 KOs) was stopped by Oscar Duarte in his last outing. The fight serves as a crossroads bout for both fighters as they look to reclaim their spots among the elite in the stacked 147-pound division.

Why it matters

This matchup between Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. is an important one for both fighters as they aim to bounce back from recent defeats and position themselves for bigger opportunities in the welterweight division, which is one of the deepest and most competitive weight classes in boxing.

The details

Barboza Jr., the 34-year-old from South El Monte, California, suffered his first professional loss against Teofimo Lopez in May 2025, dropping a unanimous decision. Prior to that setback, Barboza had built strong momentum with notable victories over contenders like Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez. Sims Jr., the 32-year-old from Chicago, was previously ranked No. 5 by the WBA at junior welterweight, but he was stopped by Oscar Duarte in his most recent outing, snapping a nine-fight winning streak. Both fighters are now campaigning at welterweight and have described this matchup as a 'do or die' situation.

  • The fight will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
  • The main card action on DAZN is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT, with the Barboza Jr. vs. Sims Jr. main event expected around 11:00 p.m. ET.

The players

Arnold Barboza Jr.

A 34-year-old welterweight boxer from South El Monte, California, who suffered his first professional loss against Teofimo Lopez in May 2025 but has previously built strong momentum with notable victories over contenders like Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez.

Kenneth 'Bossman' Sims Jr.

A 32-year-old welterweight boxer from Chicago, Illinois, who was previously ranked No. 5 by the WBA at junior welterweight but was stopped by Oscar Duarte in his most recent outing, snapping a nine-fight winning streak.

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What they’re saying

“This matchup is do or die for me. I'm coming to win and reclaim my spot among the elite in the welterweight division.”

— Kenneth Sims Jr. (nowboxing.com)

“This is the start of my Redemption Tour. I'm determined to bounce back from my loss and show that I belong at the top of the welterweight division.”

— Arnold Barboza Jr. (nowboxing.com)

What’s next

The winner of the Barboza Jr. vs. Sims Jr. fight will likely be in line for a bigger opportunity in the welterweight division, potentially facing a top contender or even challenging for a world title in the future.

The takeaway

This welterweight clash between Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. is a crucial one for both fighters as they look to rebound from recent defeats and position themselves for bigger fights in the stacked 147-pound division, which is one of the most competitive weight classes in boxing.