How to Watch: Kenneth Sims Jnr-Arnold Barboza Jnr

When is Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr?

Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr is on Saturday, March 14. The broadcast will begin at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (midnight GMT). 

What channel is Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr on?

Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr will stream on DAZN.

Where is Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr?

The fight is taking place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California

Who is Kenneth Sims Jnr?

Kenneth Sims Jnr, 22-3-1 (8 KOs), is a fringe contender at junior welterweight and welterweight who is seeking that one major win to move his career forward.

Sims, a 32-year-old from Chicago, Illinois, turned pro in 2014. He won his first 12 fights before taking a narrow majority decision loss to the 14-1-1 Rolando Chinea in 2017. That was followed by a draw with the 11-0 Montana Love in 2018. Two fights later, Sims lost a unanimous decision to the 14-2-1 Samuel Teah.

Sims then embarked on a nine-fight winning streak. He took a majority decision over the previously unbeaten Elvis Rodriguez in 2021 and did the same against 2016 Olympian Batyr Akhmedov, who was 9-2 when they met in 2023. 

Sims signed with Golden Boy Promotions in 2024 and picked up the final two wins of his run before meeting Oscar Duarte at 140lbs last August. The fight was close but ended with Sims getting the short end of a majority decision defeat.

He remains ranked by all four of the major sanctioning bodies at junior welterweight: No. 5 with the WBA, No. 9 by the IBF, No. 11 with the WBC and No. 12 by the WBO. And at welterweight – where this match with Barboza is taking place – the IBF also has Sims at No. 12. A victory over Barboza would be Sims’ biggest yet and would move him forward in whichever weight class he decides to compete in.

Who is Arnold Barboza Jnr?

Arnold Barboza Jnr, 32-1 (11 KOs), is a longtime junior welterweight contender who has moved up to welterweight after losing in his first title shot.

Barboza, a 34-year-old from Los Angeles, turned pro in 2013 at 147lbs before making his way down the scales. He made quick work of once-beaten prospect Mike Reed in 2018 and sent former titleholder Mike Alvarado into retirement in 2019. There were decision wins over once-beaten Alex Saucedo in 2020, the undefeated Danielito Zorrilla in 2022, and former titleholder Jose Pedraza in 2023.

After a controversial split decision over Sean McComb in 2024, Barboza outpointed former titleholder Jose Ramirez later that year and advanced into a fight with Jack Catterall in February 2025 for the interim WBO belt at 140lbs. Barboza traveled to Manchester, England, and won a split decision.

That landed Barboza a shot at the primary titleholder, Teofimo Lopez, who was also the lineal and Ring champion at the time. Lopez won a clear decision, giving Barboza his first pro defeat and sending him out of the weight division, ready to give his body some relief.

It took a long time for Barboza to move into the deeper end at junior welterweight. Things are much shallower at welterweight, and time is much shorter in his career now. The WBC has already ranked him No. 9 before his first fight in his new weight class. Sims should be a good test for what Barboza may have to offer at 147.

What other fights are on the undercard of Kenneth Sims Jnr vs. Arnold Barboza Jnr?

The undercard includes two title matches. In one, unified strawweight champion Oscar Collazo, 13-0 (10 KOs), will defend against Jesus Haro, 13-3 (2 KOs). In the other, undisputed flyweight champion Gabriela Fundora, 17-0 (9 KOs), will face Viviana Ruiz Corredor, 10-2 (5 KOs).

Also on this show: welterweight Alexis Rocha, 25-2-1 (16 KOs), takes on Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jnr, 34-8-1 (15 KOs); and welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte, 9-0 (8 KOs), will continue his development against Rock Myrthil, 17-2-1 (13 KOs), who has not won a fight since February 2020

The full list of undercard fights can be seen on BoxRec.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.