Arnold Barboza Jr has parted ways with his long-time promoter, Top Rank Inc. This came on the heels of learning earlier this year that Barboza Jr. could pursue free agency when speaking to Barboza Jr.'s manager in Stockton, California earlier this year. The news which was first confirmed by Mike Coppinger of ESPN.com, was also confirmed by Barboza's manager, Rick Miriigan.
When reached for comment, Rick Mirigian, the manager of Arnold Barboza Jr., had the following to say to ProBox TV News.
When speaking to Barboza Jr., he sent the following message via text to ProBox TV News this morning.
"I just want to thank top rank for an amazing eight years and also want to thank ESPN for letting me share their amazing platform," said Barboza Jr to ProBox TV exclusively. "Now it’s on to try and secure a big fight."
It seems that a major turning point for Barboza and their team was the inability to secure a Teofimo Lopez fight. As Mriigian pointed out the fight in his exclusive statement to ProBox TV.
“So, Arnold Barbosa has been waiting for a big fight, and he's owed a big fight,” Barboza Jr.’s manager, Rick Mirigian said exclusively to ProBox TV News in May. “Arnold's contract [with Top Rank] is up soon in August, depending on what happens with the next opponent, that could be something that he explores but he wants a big fight. I'm hoping Top Rank delivers that. I know they tried with all fairness, lately. They’ve tried to make big fights for him. But there's no one that deserves a bigger fight more and, look, he is frustrated as he is right now. He's in a good situation. He'll be able to control his own destiny very soon."
Barboza looked to be the frontrunner to land the WBO world title fight at the junior welterweight division as the WBO ordered a fight between himself and former unified junior welterweight champion, Jose Ramirez. At the eleventh hour, Teofimo Lopez ended his month-long retirement stating he had returned to boxing and called out Devin Haney who is the undisputed lightweight world champion. This came on the heels of Barboza Jr. seemingly being in line for the WBO junior welterweight world title fight against current champion, Teofimo Lopez. With the Haney call-out, that may have led to some frustration from Barboza's side as it appears Lopez is now angling for Haney to fight as opposed to fighting Barboza.
As stated above, Barboza's contract was to expire in August per his manager, and it appears the two sides came to an agreement. Barboza has only fought once in 2023 and that was a unanimous decision win over Jose Pedraza in February in the co-main event spot on ESPN.
Barboza Jr was originally signed to Top Rank Inc., after giving Mike Alvarado great sparring in the lead-up to Alvarado's fight with Juan Manuel Marquez that took place at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
