BIG BEAR LAKE, California – In opening the anticipated May 2 Times Square card in New York while fighting to take the WBO 140lbs belt from titleholder Teofimo Lopez Jnr, Arnold Barboza Jnr is doing just fine generating career attention.

Thanks to a collection of endearing social media reels starring his 5-year-old daughter, Eliana, however, Barboza’s title pursuit has taken on a more theatrical feel.

In scenes reminiscent of “Rocky II,” when the triumphant new champion roars, “I just want to say one thing. … Yo, Adrian, I did it,” a family member has twice filmed Eliana standing in front of the Barboza’s big-screen television at home in Southern California as the scorecards have been read for his past two bouts, against former unified 140lbs champion Jose Ramirez in November in Saudi Arabia and February’s journey to Manchester, England, versus then-No. 1-rated contender Jack Catterall.

Flexing her right bicep as the Ramirez scores were being read in Saudi Arabia, Eliana heard her dad’s name announced, turned back to face the camera and asked, “My dad won?” Told yes, she hopped up and down and yelled, “Woo! I knew you could do it, daddy!”

Against Catterall, the drama heightened. Instead of a unanimous decision, the bout was decided by split decision.

Wearing a Wonder Woman outfit at her birthday party, positioned in front of the family TV again, Eliana raised her arms and bounced on both feet in celebration, slapping hands with family members and letting loose an impressive shadow-boxing display.

“She’s not even in kindergarten yet and she’s already gone viral … she’s more famous than me,” Barboza, 32-0 (11 KOs), cracked following a recent training session as he heads to what’s expected to be another closely contested fight against two-division champion Lopez, 21-1 (13 KOs).

Eliana has already posted a hype video for the title bout after Lopez slapped Barboza at the Los Angeles stop of their press tour.

“Oh yeah!” Eliana said as Lopez became aggressive. “[You can’t] hurt my dad like that. He’s fine!”

Eliana has also been seen helping Barboza through the rigors of camp, doing push-ups alongside him and providing encouragement.

“As a father, I aim trying to raise a strong and resilient daughter who can navigate life’s challenges with confidence and grace,” Barboza wrote on one social media post.

Barboza Jnr said Eliana has watched and rooted on three other decision victories dating back to a 2022 triumph at Pechanga Casino in Temecula, California, and does so patiently, with fervent interest.

Even at Los Angeles Dodgers’ games, she will sit through all nine innings, intently watching and cheering on the action without the antsiness you would expect from a young child.

“She’s always been very engaged – definitely a different character, and not your typical 5-year-old. Huge sports fan,” Barboza said. “Her mom and I and the whole family are big sports fans, and that’s what she’s gravitated to.”

Because a minimal number of fans will be allowed ringside for the Times Square card, Eliana again will watch her dad’s fight on television.

Knowing she’s doing so is a motivating cause for Barboza Jnr, who has worked his way up diligently to the title shot after previously being denied a bout with Lopez, even when both were promoted by Top Rank.

Now with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, Barboza impressed Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh in his November “Latino Night” victory in Saudi Arabia, and forced the fight upon Lopez by defeating Catterall to become the WBO’s interim belt holder.

“It’s fuel to the fire, the gas to the engine,” Barboza said of knowing Eliana is gripped by the action. “Because when I’m in camp, I’ve missed a lot of stuff. I’ve missed her birthday, being in the UK for Catterall. Even though I threw a party when I got back, it wasn’t the same.

“But seeing her [celebrate] makes it worth it, knowing she understands what I’m doing and who I’m doing it for.”

Barboza said he has missed all four of his kids’ birthdays, Christmas and Father’s Day as he has taken five bouts between January 6, 2024, and May 2.

“It’s been hard. … I try to explain to my kids how hard I work and why I do it, and why I miss the holidays," Barboza said. "I send them videos, and [Eliana and her siblings] understand. I call her and we talk about it. … Even today, I see I’ve got three missed calls from her.”

They speak about the passion required to create the best life, along with the benefits of hard work.

Barboza’s own in-ring reactions to the scoring of Ramirez and Catterall – and even the unexpected narrow split decision over Sean McComb last year – have resembled scenes from the movies, as he closed his eyes tightly and fell to his knees after the road win over Catterall.

“I was very confident in both [recent] fights. I was more sweating the Catterall fight because it was in the UK – the first score made me think it was a draw,” he said. “I thought I beat him clearly. My face wasn’t marked, he didn’t connect anything, I outworked him.”

At home, re-connecting with family was sweet. One week after Barboza was home, however, the news arose about the Lopez assignment.

“I knew I needed to come right back up here. … I recently bought a home, and I really haven’t had a chance to enjoy it,” Barboza said. “So I’m really looking forward to taking a break after this fight – although, if the fights keep coming, I’m going to keep taking them.”

Barboza, 33, has children ranging in ages from 15 to 11, 7 and down to 5-year-old Eliana.

“This is who I do it for. I’m trying to set the foundation,” Barboza said. “It’s not even about setting myself up anymore. It’s about setting them up for a better future.

“The way I see it is to do all the sacrifices now. And after this, I’ll get to enjoy the fruits of my labor. At the end of the day, I know when all is said and done, I’ll still have my family. They’re the ones who’ll always have my back.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.