ANAHEIM, Calif. — Arnold Barboza Jr. returned to the win column Saturday night, defeating Kenneth Sims Jr. by unanimous decision in their welterweight main event at Honda Center. Judges scored the bout 117–111, 118–110 and 120–108 in favor of Barboza after a calculated 12-round performance.
The atmosphere inside Honda Center built steadily throughout the night as fans filled the arena for the main event. Barboza’s ring walk proved to be one of the most memorable moments before the fight even began, as dancers dressed in traditional Aztec garments performed alongside him on his way to the ring. He was also accompanied by Hip-Hop artist Peysoh as part of his ring walk. The unique entrance energized the crowd and set the tone for a lively main event atmosphere in Anaheim.
The fight was not a wild firefight but rather a strategic contest that favored Barboza’s patience and ring control. From the opening rounds, Barboza controlled the distance and carefully picked his shots while preventing Sims from establishing any sustained offense.
Sims remained competitive throughout the fight, but he struggled to find an effective rhythm against Barboza’s disciplined approach. Even after a clash of heads opened a cut on Barboza during the bout, the momentum remained firmly on his side.
Barboza maintained control through all twelve rounds, consistently landing the cleaner punches and neutralizing Sims’ attempts to close the distance.
With the victory, Barboza continues to position himself as a contender in a deep welterweight division. After the fight, he mentioned potential matchups with fighters such as Keyshawn Davis, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney as he looks ahead to his next opportunity.
The card also featured several notable undercard bouts, including title defenses and a highly anticipated Southern California matchup that kept the crowd engaged throughout the evening.
In the co-main event, Oscar Collazo successfully defended his WBA and WBO strawweight titles after Edwin Cano Haro did not answer the bell for the seventh round. Collazo began targeting the body as early as the third round, repeatedly landing shots that gradually wore Haro down over the course of the fight. By the end of the sixth round, the damage had taken its toll, and Haro remained on the stool as the bout was stopped. Following the victory, Collazo expressed his desire to continue collecting belts in the division before eventually moving up in weight.
Earlier in the night, undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora delivered a dominant performance against Viviana Ruiz. Fundora controlled the pace from the opening rounds, using steady combinations and constant pressure to keep Ruiz on the defensive. As the fight progressed, her volume and accuracy began to overwhelm Ruiz, eventually trapping her in the corner during a flurry of punches that forced the referee to stop the bout. With the victory, Fundora successfully defended her undisputed flyweight titles and continued her strong run as one of the division’s most active champions.
The crowd remained engaged throughout the evening, particularly when Southern California fighters stepped into the ring. Santa Ana native Alexis Rocha received one of the loudest reactions of the night during his bout against South El Monte’s very own Joseph Diaz Jr., with fans rallying behind the hometown favorite throughout the ten-round fight
Alexis Rocha and Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. delivered one of the most entertaining fights of the night. After ten hard-fought rounds, Rocha earned a unanimous decision victory. The Santa Ana native received strong support from the crowd, and the win marked an important return following a 15-month layoff.
Overall, the card delivered an entertaining night of boxing for the fans in attendance, highlighted by Barboza’s composed main event performance and several exciting undercard matchups.
From the opening bouts to the main event, the night delivered an entertaining showcase of boxing talent. With strong performances throughout the card and an energized crowd in Anaheim, the event once again demonstrated the passion Southern California fans continue to bring to the sport.
