Arnold Barboza Jr. (born December 9, 1991) is an American professional boxer, of Mexican descent. He held the World Boxing Organization (Interim version) light welterweight world title in 2025. As of April 2025, he is ranked as the world's fourth-best active light welterweight by The Ring.
Barboza made his professional debut as a welterweight on June 14, 2013, scoring a six-round unanimous decision (UD) victory against Gustavo Lopez at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
After compiling a record of 19âÂÂ0 (7 KOs) he defeated Manuel Lopez via ten-round UD on December 14, 2018, capturing the vacant WBC-NABF Junior light welterweight title at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. All three judges scored the bout 100âÂÂ90. Barboza scored another three victories in 2019; a third-round knockout (KO) to retain his title against former world title challenger Mike Alvarado in April; a fourth-round stoppage via corner retirement (RTD) against Ricky Sismundo in a non-title bout in August; and a second successful defence of his title against William Silva via fifth-round KO in November.
Barboza Jr. faced Tony Luis on August 29, 2020, in his first fight of the year. He won the bout by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 99âÂÂ90 in his favor. Barboza Jr. was booked to face the one-time WBO light welterweight title challenger Alex Saucedo for the vacant WBO International light welterweight title on October 17, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 96âÂÂ93, 97âÂÂ92 and 97âÂÂ92.
Barboza made his first WBO International title defense against Antonio Moran on August 14, 2021, on the undercard of the Joshua Franco and Andrew Moloney trilogy bout. He won the fight by a dominant unanimous decision, with scores of 99âÂÂ91, 100âÂÂ90 and 99âÂÂ91.
Barboza was scheduled to face Sean McComb on April 20, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York billing as the co-main event of the Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney bout. Barboza won the fight via controversial split decision to retain his WBO Intercontinental junior welterweight title.
On 16 November 2024, he beat José RamÃÂrez by unanimous decision in a 10-round bout at The Venue Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
Barboza faced Jack Catterall in a WBO super lightweight title eliminator on 15 February 2025 at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. He won by split decision.
Barboza unsuccessfully challenged Teofimo Lopez for his WBO super lightweight title, losing a unanimous decision in Times Square in New York City, on May 2, 2025.
Barboza returned to the ring to face Kenneth Sims Jr. in a welterweight debut at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, on March 14, 2026. He won via unanimous decision.
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