The winner should immediately get catapulted into another meaningful fight, while the loser might suddenly have to deal with being labeled as a high-end gatekeeper.

Barboza (32-1, 11 KOs) last fought in May, putting his 140-pound WBO junior welterweight title on the line against then Ring champion Teofimo Lopez. Barboza wasn't able to handle the more advanced Lopez and suffered the first loss of his career by unanimous decision. The defeat suddenly stalled the momentum the 34-year-old Barboza had built with wins over Jack Catterall and Jose Ramirez. Barboza is currently ranked No. 7 in The Ring’s 140-pound rankings but is moving on to campaign as a welterweight.

Sims (22-3, 8 KOs) is coming off a hard-fought majority decision defeat in a junior welterweight fight against Oscar Duarte in August. The loss at home in Chicago ended Sims’ nine-fight winning streak. The 32-year-old Sims has competed between 140 and 147 pounds throughout his career and should be able to adjust accordingly against Barboza.

The fight figures to be a 12-round chess match between a pair of astute technicians who share a combined 35% knockout percentage between them.

The Ring’s Mike Coppinger and Max Kellerman have made their predictions. Think you can beat them? Predict winners for prizes.

Arnold Barboza: “I'm ready to make another run in a new division. Sims is a really good fighter, and a tremendous fighter, to be honest. He can do a lot of everything – counter, be aggressive, fight on the inside and outside. He poses a big threat. But I'm also really sharp, and I can do everything he does. I'm ready to set the pace and set the tone to handle everything he brings. ... This is a very big fight for both of us. Sims is in a similar situation coming off a loss, and we're at the point of our careers where we need to show up to see who's going to the next level. I've been at the top before, and now I need to remind everyone. ... Beating someone like Sims should get me in position for a title shot and another big name. I've had to earn everything in my career; nothing was given to me. I plan on earning everything at welterweight as well.”

Kenneth Sims: “He's a good fighter who's been ranked in the top 10 for years, and I want that spot. I'm ready to take it. That's why I have been chasing this fight for years. This is my chance. It's going to help my career tremendously. He's been in big moments and fought good fighters. Me going in there and taking care of him in a dominant fashion will show that I'm here to take care of business and that I belong at the top.”

Barboza is listed as a +135 betting underdog, and Sims is a -170 betting favorite, according to DraftKings. A draw is listed at +1400.

The over/under on the number of rounds the fight is projected to last is set to 10.5 rounds. The over is set at -575, while the under is +350.

The undercard of Barboza-Sims is filled with familiar faces.

In the co-main event, The Ring, WBA and WBO strawweight champion Oscar Collazo (13-0, 10 KOs) takes on Jesus Haro (13-3, 2 KOs). Collazo is No. 10 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Undisputed flyweight queen Gabriela Fundora (17-0, 9 KOs) defends her title against Viviana Ruiz Corredor (10-2, 5 KOs). Fundora is ranked No. 6 in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Alexis Rocha (25-2-1, 16 KOs) returns to face Joseph Diaz Jr. (34-8-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight fight. Rocha was supposed to face Raul Curiel in a January rematch, but Rocha had weight management issues and was forced to pull out of the fight on the day of the weigh-in. Diaz is coming off a decision defeat in a war with Regis Prograis in August.

And welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (9-0, 8 KOs) looks to take another step in his ascending career against Rock Dodler Myrthil (17-2-1, 13 KOs).

Honda Center in Anaheim, California

The five-fight main card will stream live on DAZN beginning at 8 p.m. ET.