By Lem Satterfield
Mario Barrios is ranked No. 1 behind WBA junior welterweight champion Kiryl Relikh, the man “El Azteca” most desires to fight.
The 6-foot Barrios (22-0, 14 KOs) debuted at 122¼ pounds in November 2013 but has steadily risen in weight, being most powerfully demonstrative reeling off six stoppage victories in as many consecutive 140-pound fights under trainer Virgil Hunter.
The 29-year-old Relikh (23-2, 19 KOs) of Belarus has split his past two bouts with Cuban two-division champion Rances Barthelemy (26-1, 13 KOs), losing by disputed unanimous decision in a May 2017 clash featuring a knockdown by each fighter and winning their vacant title return bout by one-sided unanimous decision in March.
“Right now, Relikh is the champion we’re closest to and one of my main targets,” said Barrios, who is rated 11th by the IBF whose titleholder is Ivan Baranchyk (19-0, 12 KOs).
“Everything’s great out here in the Bay Area working with Virgil. We want Relikh, I know we’re gonna get him soon, and I know that when we do, we’re gonna be more than ready for him.”
Relikh is currently in the World Boxing Super Series, but there is no word if the tournament will continue after reports of financial issues. Relikh won a decision over Eduard Troyanovsky in the first round. If the tournament goes as scheduled, he would face Regis Prograis in the semi-finals.
“El Azteca’s” latest triumph was July’s two-knockdown eighth-round stoppage of Jose Roman, who entered their bout at 24-2-1 (16 KOs) and was knocked out for the first time in his career.
Roman was a follow-up to Barrios’ sensational second-round TKO of Eudy Bernardo (23-2, 18 KOs coming in) before his hometown fans in San Antonio in March.
Barrios’ last 130-pound bout was a unanimous decision in July 2016 over Italy’s Devis Boschiero, whom he floored in the first round as a nationally-televised headliner six weeks after his 21st birthday.
Boschiero was among Barrios’ three fights in 2016, including a unanimous decision over Edgar Gabejan (April) at 135 ½ pounds and a three-knockdown second-round knockout of Claudio Rosendo Tapia (December) at 136 ½ pounds.
Tapia was the first stoppage in the streak for Barrios, who could face an opponent to be determined in early Spring.
“I’ve definitely made a statement. I feel that the way I’ve been progressing at 140, I’ve shown the division that I’m ready for any of them, and Relikh is an opportunity that’s pretty close for me,” said Barrios, 23.
“I’m getting stronger, smarter and faster with every fight that I’m having, and it’s really shown. I’m waiting for a stay busy fight to be announced, and then, after that, I want to fight the best and the biggest challenges.”
Barrios and four-division champion Mikey Garcia are training with strength and conditioning guru Victor Conte at his Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC) facilities in San Carlos, California, an organization that supplies legal sports nutrition products and supplements.
The 31-year-old Garcia (39-0, 30 KOs) has a March 16 clash and 147-pound debut against IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. (24-0, 21 KOs), who is after his third defense and 12th straight knockout victory at The Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Fox Pay Per View, while Garcia’s pursuing his fifth crown in as many divisions.
“Mikey and I have been training at the SNAC together, he’s the top dog, and the workouts are next level and on point. As a young fighter, you wanna pick someone like Mikey’s brain because he has so much experience, he’s a great guy who is super friendly and he’s easy to talk to,” said Barrios.
“Mikey’s won multiple titles in four divisions, and he’s really on top of his game, taking those big risks, and raising the bar in his career. Anybody I come across in this sport like Mikey, I always have all kinds of questions. I’m a sponge and I’m going to try to soak up as much knowledge as I can, particularly from someone like Mikey who has been there.”
