Will Mario Barrios leave with his title belt, or will Ryan Garcia finally claim a championship at welterweight?
Barrios, 29-2-2 (18 KOs), will look to secure his first win in three defenses of the WBC welterweight title when he meets Garcia, 24-2 (20 KOs), at T-Mobile Arena on a DAZN pay-per-view event. Barrios, 30, of San Antonio is coming off back-to-back draws with Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao in title defenses while Garcia, 27, of Victorville, California is looking to secure a title after two losses and a no contest in title fights.
Other fights set for the card include Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka and Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright.
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Ryan Garcia wins WBC welterweight title
Ryan Garcia wins the WBC welterweight title in dominant fashion, defeating Mario Barrios by scores of 120-107, 118-109, 119-108. This wasn't in doubt from the first 30 seconds of the fight. Mario Barrios' title reign ends after three fights where he went 0-1-2.
Barrios-Garcia round 12
Another quiet round compared to the early ones but Ryan Garcia might have won all 12, Barrios gets his moral victory which he had settled for early on: going the distance. Garcia didn't just beat Barrios, he dominated him and made him look like a paper champion. The scorecards are absolutely perfunctory, the only drama remaining about whether Barrios won a single round on any card.
Barrios-Garcia rounds 10-11
Barrios has some success in the tenth but stops punching and backs off on his own and lets Garcia get back to boxing. It seems Barrios stopped trying to win the fight long ago and is just trying to go the distance. There is a reason why every name around the welterweight division wanted to fight Barrios, and Garcia is showing exactly what they had seen from him.
Barrios-Garcia round 8
Quieter round 8 as Garcia continues to jab and pot shot from distance, Garcia is holding more on the inside, not sure Barrios won that round but he didn't take as dramatic a beatdown as he had in previous rounds.
Barrios-Garcia round 7
Obviously Barrios was a big underdog for a reason, but he was at least more competitive in his previous losses to Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman. He's getting beaten up here but someone who is fighting the fight of his life. This is like a bad sparring session. Barrios hasn't gotten anything done through 7.
Barrios-Garcia round 6
Joe Goossen told Barrios after the fifth that it's the second half of the fight and he has to start dominating. I'd be amazed if I saw him being competitive at this point. Garcia still looks under control, moving around the ring. Third warning to Garcia for rabbit punching. Garcia finally lands his first big left hook near the end of the round and it rocks him. The jab has been elite for Garcia, who has made Barrios look like a club fighter so far. Henry Garcia tells his son that Barrios is ready to get caught with the hook.
Barrios-Garcia round 5
Barrios now hurt by an overhand right behind the ear once again, this is getting ugly in a hurry. This has been a total mismatch, Barrios, looks like a beaten fighter. This isn't just one-sided, it's getting dangerous. There has been zero defense from Barrios. They need to stop this fight soon because Barrios is done.
Garcia-Barrios round 4
It's hard to watch this fight and imagine that Barrios is the incumbent champion. Barrios is getting hurt with these overhand rights and has not had a moment where he looked in the fight. His legs wobbled slightly from a right hand behind the ear.
Barrios-Garcia round 3
Ryan Garcia continues to box and move, looking to set up power shots from range, Barrios is pressuring but he gets pushed back every time Garcia makes even partial contact. Garcia has been targeting that right hand, which Garcia has thrown much better than he did in the Rolly Romero loss. Garcia continues to wack Barrios to the body, Barrios looks absolutely shell-shocked by the speed and power so far, and Barrios' left eye is already start to show damage. Barrios just hasn't gotten anything done and looks like he's several levels below Garcia so far. Excellent jabs from Garcia to end the round
Barrios-Garcia Round 2
Garcia continues to box and move, he gets a second warning for hitting behind the head with that looping right hand. Barrios hasn't really gotten going as Barrios continues to walk forward but without any offense. Garcia is mixing up his offense with different punches, and Barrios is slowly starting to put punches together. Barrios can't seem to see the looping punches. Barrios lands a good body shots to Garcia. This fight could be interesting if it goes rounds.
