Ali Akbar Rosady
Las Vegas, NV – Ryan Garcia, known for his explosive power and social media presence, officially ascended to the ranks of boxing’s world champions on Saturday night, delivering a dominant performance against Mario Barrios to claim the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight title. In the highly anticipated main event at the T-Mobile Arena, Garcia controlled the bout from its opening seconds, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory with scores of 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109. The victory marks a significant turning point in Garcia’s career, following a period of professional introspection and a prior defeat.
From the first bell, Garcia (now 25-1, 20 KOs) asserted his intent, dropping Barrios (now 28-3, 18 KOs) with a blistering right hand within the initial 30 seconds of Round 1. This early knockdown set the tone for the remainder of the 12-round contest, as Garcia showcased a comprehensive offensive arsenal that Barrios struggled to counter. While Barrios displayed remarkable durability and an unwavering will to continue, he found himself consistently outmaneuvered and outpunched by Garcia’s superior speed, precision, and variety of combinations.
Garcia’s performance was a stark contrast to his previous outing in May, a listless unanimous decision loss to Rolando "Rolly" Romero. Against Barrios, Garcia demonstrated a refined tactical approach, utilizing head movement, effective footwork, and an often-underestimated right hand to control the distance and dictate the pace. He systematically broke down Barrios, landing powerful lead hooks and straight rights that visibly impacted the San Antonio native throughout the fight. Despite being hurt multiple times, Barrios absorbed Garcia’s best shots, often retreating but never entirely disengaging, earning credit for his toughness and resilience in the face of relentless pressure. The judges’ scorecards reflected Garcia’s clear command, with all three officials awarding him a near-sweep of the rounds, highlighting the one-sided nature of the championship encounter.
In his post-fight interview, Garcia expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly in demonstrating the breadth of his offensive capabilities beyond his famed left hook. "Oh yeah, it was one of the ones that I wanted to show, my whole arsenal," Garcia stated, acknowledging the critics who have historically focused on his signature punch. "I believe it was like a masterclass, but I should have got the knockout, to be honest. I’ve got to grade myself on that. I had him hurt many times, but I hurt my right hand." He emphasized the effectiveness of his right hand throughout the bout, declaring, "Guys, it wasn’t just the left hook. Y’all were saying just the left hook the whole time. Y’all saw my right hand working tonight." This statement underlined Garcia’s intent to evolve as a fighter and showcase a more complete skillset.
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The WBC welterweight title represents Garcia’s first major world championship. He previously held an interim WBC lightweight title in 2021, but this victory solidifies his position at an elite level in a competitive division. The win not only provided Garcia with a coveted belt but also served as a crucial rebound, demonstrating his ability to overcome adversity and perform under the immense pressure of a championship fight following his first professional loss. His journey, which has included significant public scrutiny and personal challenges, appears to have found a new trajectory with this commanding performance.
Mario Barrios, a former WBA (Regular) super lightweight champion, entered the bout seeking to establish himself firmly in the welterweight division. Despite his commendable display of grit, the fight exposed a significant gap in speed and technical execution against Garcia. Barrios, who had previously faced formidable opponents such as Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, was unable to implement his game plan effectively against Garcia’s quick combinations and evasive movements. His corner, while supportive, struggled to find answers for Garcia’s relentless attack, leaving Barrios to rely primarily on his chin and heart to reach the final bell. The loss marks a setback for Barrios’s aspirations in the welterweight landscape, though his durability will undoubtedly remain a recognized attribute.
With a world title now in his possession, Garcia wasted no time in setting his sights on future challenges. While a potential rematch with Devin Haney, who recently secured the WBO welterweight title in November, remains a commercially viable option, Garcia made it clear that another opponent was at the forefront of his mind. Addressing the ringside audience and, more specifically, a prominent figure seated near the action, Garcia called out WBO and Ring junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
"You know who I want," Garcia declared with conviction, pointing towards Stevenson. "He’s right there. Shakur Stevenson, let’s go. Let’s run that shit. I want to be a great champion, and I’m not scared of shit. I fought Devin Haney, I’ll fight Shakur Stevenson, let’s f*cking go! I want that fight. Shakur, let’s get it. I see you. I like that hat. You look fly, but I want that work. Let’s get it!"
The call-out immediately sparked discussions among boxing analysts and fans. Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), a highly regarded pound-for-pound contender known for his exceptional defensive skills and technical prowess, presents a stylistic challenge distinct from Garcia’s previous opponents. A potential clash between Garcia’s offensive firepower and Stevenson’s defensive mastery would undoubtedly be a significant event in the sport, potentially bridging the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. Garcia’s willingness to pursue such a high-stakes encounter against another undefeated, elite-level fighter signals his ambition to solidify his legacy beyond merely holding a championship belt. The boxing world will now eagerly await the developments regarding Garcia’s next move, with Stevenson and Haney looming as compelling potential adversaries.
Undercard Results:
The championship main event was preceded by a series of competitive bouts:
- Gary Antuanne Russell def. Andy Hiraoka via unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 116-111): In a contest that saw both fighters exchange heavy blows, Russell maintained control with consistent pressure and power, earning a clear decision.
- Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright ends as a unanimous draw (95-95 x3): This closely contested bout saw neither fighter able to establish definitive dominance, leading to identical scorecards from all three judges.
- Bektemir Melikuzelv def. Sena Agbeko via TKO – 2:58, Round 7: Melikuzelv showcased his formidable power, stopping Agbeko late in the seventh round after a relentless offensive display.
- Amari Jones def. Luis Arias via TKO (corner stoppage) – 3:00, Round 4: Jones secured a victory when Arias’s corner called a halt to the action at the end of the fourth round.
- Mohammed Alakel def. David Calabro via TKO (body shot) – 2:27, Round 2: Alakel delivered a powerful body shot that ended the fight early in the second round.
- Joshua Edwards def. Brandon Colantonio via unanimous decision (60-54 x3): Edwards dominated his opponent, securing every round on all three judges’ scorecards.
- Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte – fight off: This scheduled bout was canceled prior to the event.
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