Either Barboza or Zorrilla “O” Has To Go Friday Night

Unbeaten junior welterweights Arnold Barboza Jr. and Danielito Zorrilla will risk their perfect records in the main event of the Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Friday (ESPN, ESPN Deportes, ESPN+, 9 p.m. ET with preliminaries exclusively on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET) at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

Barboza (26-0, 10 KOs), 30, of South El Monte, California, will have the crowd on his side against Zorrilla (16-0, 12 KOs), 28, of Puerto Rico.

“It’s exciting to fight in front of friends and family in California,” said Barboza, who is ending an 11-month layoff. “It has been a while since I fought in Cali, but now we are here, and we have a great matchup. We have a tough and hungry fighter in front of us.

“I think this fight has all the makings of being another great war between Mexico and Puerto Rico. I’m Mexican-American and he is Puerto Rican. This one will be a great battle. Everyone knows my style, and he also likes to come forward. I can’t wait for Friday night. All the hard work is paying off. I began my career fighting on the small UniMas shows and now I’m the main event on ESPN, but we are not satisfied. We want more.”

Hear us discussing Barboza-Zorrilla more on the “Big Fight Weekend Preview” podcast by clicking play below,

Zorrilla didn’t hesitate to travel but he believes he is in for a tough fight.

“I feel happy and thankful for this opportunity. I’m well-prepared physically and mentally. Everyone will see on Friday night,” Zorrilla said. “I expect a lot from Barboza. He is a great fighter and one of the best in the division. This will be a very competitive fight. This will be a war.

“Now I have former world champion Rocky Martinez in my corner. He is a man that has a lot of experience. He is a three-time world champion and knows what it takes to become a champion. He has added a lot to my team. I think this combination will benefit my career.”

Also on the main card:

Lightweight prospect Raymond Muratalla (14-0, 12 KOs), 25, of Fontana, California, will face Jair Valtierra (16-1, 8 KOs), 20, of Mexico, in an eight-rounder.

Heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr. (1-0, 1 KO), a 23-year-old southpaw and a 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist from Tulare, California, will fight Roberto Zavala Jr. (2-1-1, 2 KOs), 34, of Del Rio, Texas, in a six-rounder.

Results from Friday’s weigh-in: Barboza 139.6 pounds, Zorrilla 139.6; Muratalla 136, Valtierra 137; Torrez 224, Zavala 255.2; Austin Brooks 125.2, Victor Saravia 125.2; Stephan Shaw 236.6, Bernardo Marquez 231.2; Floyd Diaz 121.6, Pedro Salome 121.4; Jorge Marron Jr. 143.2, Adrian Yung 142.6.