Oscar Duarte Vs. Kenneth Sims Jr. Preview

Oscar Duarte faces Kenneth Sims Jr. in a junior welterweight clash on August 2, as we preview this upcoming fight. 

Duarte has rejuvenated his career following his first loss to Ryan Garcia in 2023. Under Robert Garcia, he became the first fighter to stop Jo Jo Diaz. That was followed up by a decision win against Batyr Akhmedov. He enters this fight with a stoppage win against fellow Mexican Miguel Madueño, as Duarte aims for a future world title shot. 

Meanwhile, Sims Jr. has also built up momentum following his 2021 upset win against Elvis Rodriguez. He has racked up six wins on the spin, moving to number four in the WBA rankings just ahead of Duarte. His last bout was a win against Kendo Castaneda via a unanimous decision. Duarte and Sims were meant to fight in November 2024, but Sims pulled out with a knee injury, as they have some unfinished business. 

Pre-Fight

“I feel very happy and motivated to be the main event on August 2nd against Sims Jr., an opponent I had previously scheduled to fight, but due to fate, the fight was postponed. I want to take this opportunity to thank Oscar de la Hoya, Eric Gómez, and the entire Golden Boy team for their trust. We are going all out, going for that win to get closer to a world championship,” Duarte

“This fight is long overdue and I’m ready to put on a show and leave with the victory. I’m fully healthy now and ready to put on a stellar performance for my fans in Chicago. It’s a dream come true to headline in my hometown, the greatest city in the world,” Sims

Main Card

Oscar Duarte (29‑2‑1) vs. Kenneth Sims Jr. (22‑2‑1)

Regis Prograis (29‑3) vs. Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (34‑7‑1)

Tristan Kalkreuth (15‑1) vs. Kareem Hackett (12‑1)

Joshua Edwards (3‑0) vs. Cayman Audie (4‑1)

Yair Gallardo‑Lozano (9‑0) vs. Quinton Rankin (21‑9‑2)