Slated for this upcoming Saturday night in Las Vegas, two of the best fighters in boxing clash for the WBC Welterweight Championship. In this bout, Mario Barrios defended his WBC title against former WBC interim lightweight champion Ryan Garcia. The champion is coming off a mixed decision draw against the legendary Manny Pacquiao from their bout last summer, also in Paradise, Nevada. Meanwhile, Garcia is a legendary competitor in his own right, amassing a 15-time national amateur champion war chest and an amateur record of 215 wins and 15 losses. Garcia however, is coming off a loss from last May where he fell in unanimous decision fashion to Rolando Romero in Times Square.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these combatants, a selected winner, and also some more notes and information you can only find at SBS.
In the bout against Romero, Garcia lost the fight by unanimous decision, being knocked down by Romero with a double left hook in the second round. Regardless, the native of Victorville, California, is still one of the top young stars in the sport and boasts a record of 24-2, including 20 knockout victories. Prior to his last fight, Garcia took on Devin Haney in a star-studded matchup. In this fight, Garcia won the bout via majority decision, knocking down Haney in rounds 7, 10, and 11, before coming away with the victory, sources noted. However, on May 1st of 2024, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association notified all involved parties that Garcia tested positive for Ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug.
In December of 2023, Garcia faced Oscar Duarte at the Toyota Center in Houston. In this matchup, King Ry was able to win the fight via knockout in the 8th round after landing a combination late in the round, rendering Duarte unable to beat the count of the referee. Perhaps in his biggest fight to date, Garcia took on Gervonta Davis in April of 2023 in a 136 lbs catchweight contest. In this fight, Davis knocked down Garcia in the second round and then also in the seventh round from a body shot. The Victorville native was unable to rise on the referee’s count of ten, leading to Davis being declared the winner via KO, reports noted. This was Garcia’s first loss as a professional. So, this upcoming matchup has huge stakes for him to get back into the title scene.
In May of 2025, it was reported and announced that former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao would end his nearly four-year retirement with a return bout against Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship in Las Vegas. Noted in another source, the fight between the two ended in a majority draw after 12 competitive rounds. In fact, one judge scored the contest 115-113 for Barrios, while the other two judges scored it 114-114, allowing Barrios to retain the WBC welterweight title. Also known as “El Azteca” and “Golden Boy,” Barrios has held the WBC welterweight title since 2024. Previously, he held the World Boxing Association (WBA)(Regular version) super lightweight title from 2019 to 2021.
After turning professional in 2013, Barrios has amassed a stellar record of 29-2 with two draws as well, including, of course, his draw against Pacquiao. In fact, these last two draws have come in his last two matchups, the other bout being against Abel Ramos. Barrios won the vacant WBC interim welterweight title against Yordenis Ugas in September of 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. Additionally, he would go on to defend this belt against Fabian Maidana in May of 2024. An imposing fighter, Garcia and Barrios have a significant common opponent in Gervonta Davis. In June of 2021, Davis scored a TKO win over Barrios at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta in a matchup for Barrios’ WBA super lightweight title. Indeed, with so many high-flying contests in his career, Barrios has earned the right to be called champion, but perhaps this will be his toughest defense of his title to date.
Both fighters are certainly capable of winning this matchup, but Garcia gets the slight edge here, given his slightly more impressive body of work and more raw power. Of course, watch out for Barrios’ height and reach advantage, but Garcia is the choice to take home the title and get back on track.
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest boxing updates, make sure to check out the excellent array of information for you only at SBS. Of course, for even more analysis on the sport in this report, the boxing betting sites guide is a must-read page. Here, you can find betting markets information on the latest matchups and more for eligible patrons. Moreover, for those on the go, and who qualify, the best betting apps rundown is an excellent page where you can learn more about the tips and tricks related to mobile betting. Finally, for those interested in some higher-stakes wagering, and who qualify, the VIP sports betting sites breakdown is a must to check out. On this page, eligible customers can learn more about the perks of VIP wagering and whether it makes sense for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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