ANAHEIM, Calif. – Arnold Barboza Jnr welcomed the idea of an all-SoCal showdown with Alexis Rocha at the moment.
However, it’s not even close to his first choice for a next fight, but more of a back-up plan.
The former WBO 140lbs interim beltholder from El Monte called out all the major welterweight titleholders shortly after his dominant win over Kenneth Sims Jnr, 22-4-1 (8 KOs). Barboza, 33-1 (15 KOs), was joined in the ring by Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha, who defeated Joseph “JoJo” Diaz earlier in the night on the DAZN show from Honda Center in Anaheim.
Both boxers are promoted by Golden Boy – who presented Saturday’s show – and are from the greater Los Angeles area. With Barboza already settled in at welterweight, the matchup makes sense from a geographical standpoint. Both boxers even spoke it up during Barboza’s in-ring post-fight interview.
The question is whether it makes directional sense.
“I want a bigger fight than Alexis Rocha,” Barboza told BoxingScene and other media outlets during the post-fight press conference. “I want Ryan [Garcia], or any of the champions.”
Depending on who you ask (a list that will likely soon include attorneys), Garcia, 25-2 (20 KOs) is either still under contract with Golden Boy or officially became a free agent after his February 21 landslide victory over Mario Barrios.
Regardless, the fighting pride of Victorville, California holds the WBC title and has proven to be a huge draw in the SoCal area. He has previously sold out the Honda Center and his fighting accolades have now caught up with his longstanding popularity.
Even at age 34, Barboza continues to work on his marketability. This past weekend was a nice start, a perfect storm of events for the 13-year ring veteran who needed a strong showing after he laid an egg against then-lineal, RING and WBO 140lbs champ Teofimo Lopez last May.
The crowd on hand was passionate – in support of Barboza and all the SoCal fighters on the undercard. Coupled with his performance, he now has a nice foundation to entice the division’s higher profile figures into an attractive title fight.
“A lot of people were impressed with Ryan's last performance, but Mario Barrios looked [weight] drained,” insisted Barboza. “He looked off. Barrios fought like I did against Teofimo Lopez. When you are at a weight class for so long, your body outgrows the division.
“I'll be fresh, just like Ryan. I felt really comfortable in my welterweight debut.”
Aside from Garcia, welterweight currently boasts: three-division and WBO titlist Devin Haney; WBA beltholder Rolando “Rolly” Romero; IBF claimant Lewis Crocker; and former WBO titleholder Brian Norman Jnr.
Naturally, everyone at 147lbs wants a fight with Garcia – including Haney. The potential rematch was strongly suggested by Golden Boy chairman and Hall of Fame former six-division champ Oscar De La Hoya. This, despite the fact there are reportedly ongoing talks between Haney and Romero, the latter who is avoiding an overdue mandatory defense versus Shakhram Giyasov.
Crocker is already booked for his next fight. The unbeaten Belfast native is due to face IBF mandatory challenger Liam Paro sometime this spring on the road in Australia.
That could leave Rocha as Barboza’s best option for the sake of remaining active and maintaining the positive momentum gained from Saturday.
“If I can't get a bigger name, we can go with Rocha,” lamented Barboza. “We'll see where we go from here. Nothing in my career has been given to me, and everything has been earned.”
