Tuesday saw Golden Boy Promotions announce their next major fight card, for March 14th as Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims will move up to welterweight for the main event. And, hard hitting unified minimum weight champ Oscar Collazo defends his titles in the co-feature.
It's a battle of Southern California pride and Chicago grit, as two proven junior welterweights, Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims, will headline the Golden Boy Promotions March show at 147 lb. in California.
Barboza (32-1, 11 KOs) of South El Monte, CA takes on Chicago’s hard-charging Kenneth Sims (22-2-1, 8 KOs) in a high-stakes 12-round welterweight showdown, streaming live worldwide on DAZN. With the 147-pound division wide open and redemption hanging in the balance, both fighters are determined to make an emphatic statement in their divisional debuts.
The main event unfolds Saturday, March 14, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, presented in association with Cancun Boxing. For Barboza, the bout marks the beginning of a personal resurgence. After suffering the first loss of his professional career to Teofimo Lopez last May, he has rebuilt from the ground up—new team, new gym, renewed focus—while maintaining the same hunger that carried him to the top. He insists this moment is about more than revenge; it’s about proving evolution, resilience, and reclaiming his path toward a world title,
“I’m officially stepping back into the ring after some much needed time off,” said Barboza in the Golden Boy release “My first loss didn’t break me, it built me. Built a new team, new gym, new mindset yet still same purpose, same hunger, same goals. I heard the doubters get louder. I saw some opinions change yet nothing about me changed. This is bigger than revenge. This is the Redemption Tour.”
Sims, known as “Bossman,” has long pursued this opportunity. Confident in his skill set and eager to shine on a major stage, he views March 14 as the breakthrough he has waited years to secure. For him, this is a defining crossroads—an all-or-nothing clash against a respected opponent. Both men understand the stakes: one decisive victory could launch the winner into immediate title contention in a loaded welterweight landscape.
“This is a fight that I’ve been wanting for a long time. Barboza is a good fighter who’s been on the big stage, but I’ve always known that I am a better fighter than him and only wanted the chance to prove it,” said Sims . “I’ve been chasing this opportunity for years now and this is a great time for it to finally happen. This is a do or die fight for both of us, and I can’t wait to get in there and handle business on March 14.”
The 12-round co-main event adds championship firepower to the card. Puerto Rico’s unified minimumweight king Oscar Collazo (13-0, 10 KOs), holder of the WBA, WBO, and Ring Magazine titles, defends against Mexico’s Jesús “Chiquito” Haro (13-3, 2 KOs). Fresh off a devastating knockout win over Jayson Vayson in September 2025, Collazo returns intent on extending his dominant reign.
“I’m very happy to be returning to the ring this coming March 14th. Unfortunately, we won’t be pursuing a unification bout for reasons beyond my control,” said Collazo. “The company presented us with this opportunity with Jesús Haro."
"I respect him because I know he comes with the desire and hunger to be champion, but on March 14th he’ll be facing the best in the division. Without a doubt, Puerto Rico vs. Mexico is a guaranteed war. We’re ready to put on a great fight and secure a solid victory for Puerto Rico."
Collazo has made six world title defenses and is a popular small weight fighter.
Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy said in the promo statement,
“I love this (main event) because neither guy is afraid of the other. Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims have worked their entire careers to become the best and on March 14 somebody takes a major step toward the top of the division,” said Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “The undercard will be stacked with talent, with the return of Puerto Rican Unified Champ Oscar Collazo and Undisputed Champ Gabriela Fundora both defending their titles. Fans are getting a complete night of high-level Southern California fights!”
As De La Hoya referenced, Undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela “Sweet Poison” Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs) returns to defend her titles against WBA interim world Champion Viviana Ruiz Corredor (10-2, 5 KOs), in a 10-round title fight.
“There are only two ways of doing something, the right way or the wrong way.” said Gabriela Fundora. “We are preparing to put on a great performance on March 14th at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Save the date to watch on DAZN!”
The announcement is an indication that Golden Boy Promotions is close to a longer agreement with the DAZN streaming service, as their multi-deal expired at the end of 2025.