Arnold Barboza Jnr loaded for bear at familiar training spot

Junior welterweight Arnold Barboza Jnr has returned to Big Bear, California, for training ahead of his November 16 bout against Jose Ramirez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The remote setting, known for shaping many of his best boxing camps, reflects the mental and physical toughness needed for Ramirez's relentless pressure.

The 12-round fight will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

Barboza, 32, from Los Angeles, highlights the importance of Big Bear, where he trained for key wins over Mike Alvarado, Alex Saucedo and Jose Pedraza. Limited sparring partners, few activities and runs through the hills have made Big Bear a place of focused isolation.

“My best fights have been up here when I trained at Big Bear,” Barboza told BoxingScene. “This fight requires not just top physical shape but mental preparation too.

“We figured that coming up here, you work on mental and physical – the mental being because you're at elevation, sparring two partners. They're coming in fresh. You're doing a certain amount of rounds. Everything is mental up here, and I think that helps get you strong for the fight.”

Barboza, 30-0 (11 KOs), noted that the isolation reflects the relentless pressure Ramirez, 29-1 (18 KOs), a 32-year-old from Avenal, California, is known for – breaking down opponents with sustained pressure that causes physical and mental fatigue.

“A lot of fighters get phased by his pressure, feeling like they’re hitting him with everything, and he’s unfazed,” Barboza said. “That’s where the mental aspect kicks in. That’s why I think a lot of fighters have lost to him and why we came up here – to stay focused, away from distractions, and be isolated.”

Barboza’s camp is taking place at Jaime Munguia’s gym, once the site of The Summit, formerly run by Abel Sanchez and where Gennady Golovkin trained during his iconic run. A lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Barboza hopes to bring a victory home to L.A., inspired by the Dodgers’ World Series win.

“We have the right people here – my pops, sparring partners, my chef and my massage therapist,” Barboza said. “Six of us in a cabin watching Dodgers and Lakers games. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.