{"id":217959,"date":"2026-03-13T10:38:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:38:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/217959\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T10:38:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T10:38:23","slug":"arnold-barboza-jr-battles-kenneth-sims-jr-on-dazn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/217959\/","title":{"rendered":"Arnold Barboza Jr Battles Kenneth Sims Jr On DAZN"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Barboza shares the event with Alexis Rocha and Joseph \u201cJoJo\u201d Diaz, two fighters he has known since childhood while training around the South El Monte area. Rocha and Diaz meet in a welterweight fight on the undercard, placing three familiar names from the Los Angeles gym circuit on the same lineup.<\/p>\n

Barboza pointed out the connection during Thursday\u2019s press conference in Orange, California, when he looked over the full card.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to give a big shoutout to Golden Boy,\u201d Barboza said. \u201cThis card is stacked from top to bottom. I\u2019m on the card with Puerto Rico\u2019s best fighter, Collazo. My favorite female fighter, hands down, is Fundora.<\/p>\n

\u201cRocha, the undercard, one person I gotta give a shout-out to is my hometown guy JoJo Diaz. I\u2019m proud of you. Everything we\u2019ve been through together. Who knew when we were eight years old running around South El Monte Boxing Gym that we\u2019d be on this card together?\u201d<\/p>\n

Diaz, a former IBF junior lightweight champion from South El Monte, enters the fight trying to rebuild his career after several difficult years inside and outside the ring. The 33-year-old said his personal life has changed as he prepares to face Rocha.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy beautiful kids is what completes me,\u201d Diaz said. \u201cMy girlfriend, my daughter, my son. I\u2019ve done everything in boxing. Now it\u2019s deeper for me. It\u2019s spiritual for me. I give glory to God. He brought me out of a deep place.<\/p>\n

\u201cI gave my life to Christ and gave up the drugs and alcohol. I\u2019m here to show that no matter how dark it gets, you can still do it as long as you have faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rocha said the matchup carries respect despite the competitive stakes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m very happy to be fighting JoJo,\u201d Rocha said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen him coming up. I\u2019ve always admired him and respected him. Honestly, I always looked up to him, not just what he\u2019s accomplished but his faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

The main event pairs Barboza with Chicago contender Sims in a welterweight fight after both previously competed at junior welterweight. Sims said he accepted the opportunity quickly when it was offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve wanted this fight for a while,\u201d Sims said. \u201cHe\u2019s a good fighter, and I want to fight everyone. He\u2019s been in the top 10 for years, and I want that spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Barboza expects a difficult fight but welcomed the matchup.<\/p>\n

\u201cSims is an amazing fighter,\u201d Barboza said. \u201cI know he\u2019s going to bring it, and I really can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s DAZN card also features lineal and unified strawweight champion Oscar Collazo and undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora in separate title fights on the Anaheim show.<\/p>\n

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