Barboza (32-1, 11 KO) wants to erase the memory of the defeat against Teofimo Lopez. Tonight, Barboza seemed to be stuck in neutral, finding no answer as Lopez controlled the distance and pace. The ease with which Lopez handled the fight raised uncomfortable questions about Barboza’s ability to adapt when his original plan stopped working.

Sims (22-2-1, 8 KO) is in a similar situation. His defeat against Oscar Duarte caused him to abandon his technical strengths and trade in his natural striking. Fighting Duarte, Sims looked vulnerable, losing a decision in a grueling battle that suggested he may not have been cut out for switchboards.

The reality for Saturday is brutal. Both fighters are now labeled as solvable problems. Another needy performance or tactical breakdown would likely confirm that a ceiling has been reached and either fighter would fall outside the welterweight elite.

The 12-round main event will culminate in the streaming of the Golden Boy Promotions card on DAZN. During Thursday’s news conference, Sims made it clear that he sees Barboza as the guardian of the life he wants.

“Arnold has been in the top 10 rankings for years and that’s where I want to be,” Sims said. “I’ve been chasing this fight for a long time. It’s happening now.”

Barboza, unfazed by the pressure, noted that he expected a complex night.

“As far as Kenneth Sims is concerned, he is a great fighter,” Barboza said. “I’m excited about this fight and I can’t wait for Saturday.”

Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya said both fighters chose the complex route back rather than rebuild their strength against a softer opponent.

Anaheim’s career is supported by several title fights, including minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo defending against Jesus Haro, Alexis Rocha fighting JoJo Diaz Jr. and Gabriela Fundora defending her undisputed flyweight championship against Viviana Ruiz Corredor.

For the main event, the equation is straightforward. A convincing victory keeps the winner in the conversation for a title shot. Another defeat leaves both players with complex questions about how far they can go.

Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Martin Bakole are all targeted by the world-class heavyweight, and Bakole represents a particularly “personal” option.

The 34-year-old has not fought since a controversial draw with Efe Ajagba in May, when many felt he should have been handed a points defeat.

before, Bakole suffered a second round defeat to Joseph Parkerwhom he had faced just two days earlier, following his stunning fifth-round victory over Jared Anderson.

However, back in 2022, the Congolese giant scored an arguably more surprising victory, winning a majority decision against Tony Yoka.

At the time, it was considered more than just a developmental fight for Yoka, who set an undefeated record after winning gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

However, after losing to Bakole, the Frenchman later suffered split decision defeats to Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy before resuming his career with four bounce-back wins.

As he now prepares to face former cruiserweight world champion Lawrence Okolie on April 25 at the Adidas Arena in Paris, the 33-year-old hopes to finally get his revenge on Bakole.

I’m talking to Boxing bookYoka – who is of Congolese descent – named Bakole, Joshua and Fury as three potential opponents after the clash with Okolie.

“I have to beat Bakole – it’s personal. This is the first fight I lost, we are both from the same country [The Democratic Republic of the Congo] and we must make it happen there in Kinshasa.

“So I have to beat Bakole first and then I would love to fight Anthony. It would be a great fight, just because it would be so massive – especially in my country [France]. It would be two Olympic gold medalists fighting in the stadium.

“Why not Tyson Fury? Tyson Fury is one of the greatest [heavyweight] boxers ever. It’s so weird, but also just too good.

It is not yet clear who Joshua will face in his comeback fight, which has been scheduled for July by Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.

Meanwhile, Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, after ending his one-year retirement in January.

The Devin Haney vs. Ryan Garcia rematch is headed to Las Vegas. On Thursday, Bill Haney, during a conversation with X, suggested that Allegiant Stadium would be the leading option for hosting the Sept. 5 event.

Promoters are still finalizing the business side of the deal, but Bill said fighters often sign their part before everything else is completed. “The fighters sign their contract well before the promoters finalize the terms,” he wrote, adding that Devin was already training.

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Last update: 2026/03/12 at 23:55