Ryan Garcia secured the first world championship of his professional career on Saturday night, overwhelming Mario Barrios to claim the WBC welterweight belt in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Californian floored Barrios within the opening thirty seconds, landing a crisp right hand that sent the defending champion to the canvas.
Though Barrios rose to continue, the early knockdown set the tone for a thoroughly one-sided contest.
Garcia controlled proceedings across all twelve rounds, earning a comprehensive unanimous decision victory.
The judges’ scorecards reflected his dominance: 120-107, 119-108, and 118-109.
Garcia improves his record to 25-2 with 20 knockouts, whilst Barrios falls to 29-3-2 following the defeat.
Garcia demonstrated remarkable tactical discipline throughout the bout, showcasing a more mature approach than fans have previously witnessed.
Rather than hunting for a spectacular knockout, he employed patience and precision to systematically dismantle Barrios.
Ryan Garcia secured the first world championship of his professional career on Saturday night
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His speed advantage proved decisive, as he consistently beat the former champion to the punch whilst circling away from danger.
Notably, Garcia relied heavily on his right hand rather than his celebrated left hook, catching Barrios repeatedly with overhand rights and sharp jabs.
The variety of his attacks left Barrios unable to anticipate incoming shots, forcing the Mexican-American into a defensive shell.
Barrios struggled to impose his typically high-volume style, unable to cut off the ring or land meaningful combinations as Garcia dictated the tempo throughout.
The victory represents a remarkable turnaround following a turbulent period in Garcia’s career
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The victory represents a remarkable turnaround following a turbulent period in Garcia’s career.
He entered the Barrios fight with a 1-2 record and a no contest from his previous four outings, having suffered defeats to Gervonta Davis and Rolly Romero.
His majority decision triumph over Devin Haney in 2024 was subsequently overturned after Garcia failed a drug test, resulting in a twelve-month suspension from the sport.
Beyond the ring, Garcia faced further difficulties including a June 2024 arrest following alleged damage to a Beverly Hills hotel room.
Garcia’s performance against Barrios demonstrated he has evolved beyond his reputation as merely a knockout artist with flashy power
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The WBC also expelled him that summer after he made racial slurs against Black people and disparaging remarks about Muslims during a social media broadcast.
Following his comprehensive victory, the newly crowned welterweight champion called out Shakur Stevenson, who currently holds the WBO title at 140 pounds.
A clash between the two American fighters would represent one of the most significant bouts boxing could offer this year.
Garcia’s performance against Barrios demonstrated he has evolved beyond his reputation as merely a knockout artist with flashy power.
