For 2023 to unfold differently than 2022 for Kenneth Sims Jr., the Chicago native will need another junior welterweight contender to fight him.

Sims has had difficulty landing those types of opportunities since he rejuvenated his career by upsetting then-unbeaten Elvis Rodriguez by majority decision in May 2021. The process has been frustrating for Sims (19-2-1, 7 KOs), but he expressed hope after stopping late replacement Rock Myrthil (17-2, 13 KOs) in the fifth round last Saturday night at The Chelsea inside the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas that he’ll be able to move closer toward a title shot next year.

“I hope somebody takes the chance and thinks they see something they can exploit,” Sims told BoxingScene.com after winning a sixth straight bout since Samuel Teah beat him by unanimous decision in November 2018. “But I’ll tell you right now, it’s gonna backfire if they take that chance.”

Taking their fight backfired for Rodriguez (13-1-1, 12 KOs), a supposedly stronger southpaw whom Sims defeated in an eight-rounder ESPN televised 19 months ago from Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Sims, 28, is 3-0 since he out-pointed Rodriguez on two scorecards (78-74, 78-74, 76-76) and is ranked 14th among the WBA’s super lightweight contenders for its 140-pound champion, unbeaten Alberto Puello.

“I’m the highest in the WBA rankings,” Sims said. “I’m number 14, so whoever has that WBA title or whoever’s ranked ahead of me, I think that’s the route I’ll probably have to take. I’m gonna have to make something happen, give someone no choice but to fight me. Anything that will help me move up in the WBA rankings, that’s what I need. I want Alberto Puello.”

Puello (21-0, 10 KOs), a southpaw from the Dominican Republic, has a mandatory defense due versus Venezuela’s Ismael Barroso (24-3-2, 22 KOs). That fight hasn’t been scheduled, but whoever wins would be free to make an optional defense thereafter.

Puello and Sims, who is represented by GH3 Promotions, both are affiliated with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions. That might make it easier to secure that fight than it has been for Sims’ handlers to finalize other opportunities.

“We’ve been trying to get the big fights,” Sims said. “We’ve been offered the big fights, by other promoters sometimes. Top Rank has a lot of guys. Top Rank will reach out. Then I accept the fights, and guys don’t want it. I’m just trying to do what I’ve gotta do to make fights happen.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.