Ryan Garcia produced a dominant performance against Mario Barrios in a WBC welterweight title fight on Saturday, Feb. 21 in Las Vegas.
It’s the first major championship victory of Garcia’s career. He brought the crowd to their feet early in the fight, knocking Barrios down with a right hand during the first 30 seconds of the opening round.
The new championship mentioned in his post-fight interview that he thinks he should’ve had the knockout at some point during the fight but hurt his hand.
The fight was considered a critical one for Garcia, after losing his last fight against Rolando Romero. Garcia had just one victory in his last four fights.
Garcia improves to a 25-2-0 record. Barrios falls 29-3-2 record. His most recent loss took place back in Feb. 2022 in a unanimous decision to Keith Thurman.
Garcia called out Shakur Stevenson, who was in attendance for the fight, after the victory.
Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios highlights
Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios results
Round 12: Garcia and Barrios go the distance, but the fight was never in doubt. The challenger just outboxed the champion from beginning to end.
Round 11: Garcia has slowed down but still looked good enough to win every round so far.
Round 10: Garcia delivered a successful combination, including a shot that may have broken Barrios’ nose. The doctor looked at Barrios again, but the champion will fight in the 11th round.
Round 9: Barrios still hasn’t shown enough to earn a round so far tonight. Doctors are taking a look at Barrios after the round.
Round 8: Barrios had a better showing in the round, but still not enough to take it from Garcia. There’s a level of frustration being shown by Barrios.
Round 7: The champion still doesn’t have an answer for Garcia’s right hand. Garcia landed another strong right early in the round before following it up with another flurry of shots.
Round 6: Garcia delivers a body shot that appeared to knock Barrios down, but it’s not ruled a knockdown. The fighters’ feet may have tangled up there.
Round 5: Barrios continues to show his toughness as Garcia delivers the punishment. Barrios’ legs got a bit woozy after taking a right-handed shot to the head.
Round 4: Garcia set the pace early with fast combinations. He’s having a lot of success with the right hand tonight against Barrios.
Round 3: Garcia continues to deliver through the third round. Barrios is certainly taking damage. Barrios doesn’t have an answer for Garcia’s speed.
Round 2: Garcia managed to win the second round. Garcia’s speed has clearly worked to his advantage early against Barrios. The challenger has looked strong through the first two rounds.
Round 1: Garcia delivered a right hand to the top of Barrios’s forehead to knock him down within the first 30 seconds of the opening round. Barrios was in trouble early but managed to survive the first round.
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios: Time, PPV, streaming for fight
Ryan Garcia will face Mario Barrios on Saturday, Feb. 21, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Date: Saturday, Feb. 21
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios main event ringwalks: 11:50 p.m. ET (estimate)
Stream: DAZN
Watch Garcia vs Barrios fight with DAZN
Gary Antuanne Russell def. Andy Hiraoka results
Russell got the best of Hiraoka in the opening round of the WBA super lightweight title fight.
Both fighters exchanged jabs to start the fourth round, but it was Russell who continued to take a majority of the early rounds.
Hiraoka began to target Russell’s body in the later rounds of the fight to close the gap.
In the 10th round, Russell had a point deducted after hitting Hiraoka below the belt.
Russell earned the unanimous decision victory over Hiraoka (117-110, 116-111, 116-111) to retain the WBA super lightweight title.
Mario Barrios arrives for main event fight
Barrios arrives at T-Mobile Arena for the main event fight.
Draw: Frank Martin-Nahir Albright
Martin managed to get the best of Nahir Albright in the opening round, despite Albright’s effort to push Martin early.
Martin rocked Albright with a left hand at the end of the fifth round. Martin continued to be the be agressive, starting the sixth round with a flurry of shots.
Martin has been in complete control throughout the night. Albright put together some good rounds to finish out the fight. The officials all scored the final a draw with a 95-95 score.
Bektemir Melikuziev def. Sena Agbeko
Melikuziev earned the victory in the seventh round of the fight. He delivered a left hand to the face of Agbeko to drop him on the mat. Agbeko managed to get back up and got clearance to continue from the official.
Melikuziev walked back over and delivered one more punch straight to the face of Agbeko, forcing the official to stop the fight.
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios: Prelims results
Super featherweight: Mohammed Alakel def. David Calabro (second-round KO)
Heavyweight: Joshua Edwards def. Brandon Colantonio via unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Super lightweight: Richardson Hitchins was unable to fight due to illness. His IBF title fight with Oscar Duarte was cancelled.
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios: Full fight card
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia: WBC welterweight title
Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte: IBF super lightweight title
Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka: WBA super lightweight title
Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright: Super lightweight
Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sena Agbeko: Super middleweight
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios odds
All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM
Ryan Garcia (-225) vs. Mario Barrios (+170): WBC welterweight title
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios full fight card odds
All odds are for moneyline bets as of Saturday, via BetMGM
Ryan Garcia (-225) vs. Mario Barrios (+170): WBC welterweight title
Richardson Hitchins (-500) vs. Oscar Duarte (+333): IBF super lightweight title
Gary Antuanne Russell (-325) vs. Andy Hiraoka (+240): WBA super lightweight title
Frank Martin (-350) vs. Nahir Albright (+250): Super lightweight
Bektemir Melikuziev (-1400) vs. Sena Agbeko (+600): Super middleweight
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios predictions
USA TODAY: Garcia by KO
Josh Peter writes: ‘This is a critical fight for Ryan Garcia, coming off a disappointing loss to Rolly Romero in May and a victory over Devin Haney in 2024 that was tainted by a positive drug to test. Generally speaking, it’s wise to disregard training camp footage as a sign of a fighter’s preparedness. (Case in point: Mike Tyson’s convincing video clips released before the Jake Paul fight.) But Garcia has looked strong and fast, and Mario Barrios, well, he barely held off a 46-year-old Manny Pacquaio in July. Granted, Pacquiao’s fighting style remains confounding. But the 27-year-old Garcia is stronger and more dangerous than Pacquiao. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Garcia get knocked down. But will be shocked if he’s not the last man standing. Prediction: Garcia by KO, Round 9.’
ESPN: Garcia wins
Teddy Atlas for ESPN writes, ‘I think Garcia wins. If he shows up as a mess mentally, then Barrios could be more consistent, more deliberate, more dependable. And that could be enough. His experience and his dependability, his heart, maybe that’s enough to get him across the finish line. But I think that if Garcia is halfway together or a little more than halfway together mentally, I think he wins. I think Garcia has got a chance to hurt Barrios.’
Sporting News: Garcia via unanimous decision
Daniel Yanofsky writes, ‘There is one thing to wonder: Which Garcia will show up? Barrios can give Garcia some issues early on if the latter isn’t 100% physically and mentally. Providing pressure will be key for Barrios. One has to think Garcia, who hasn’t officially won a fight since 2023, understands the stakes here. Garcia should go for the knockout, but the bout going the distance might make sense.’
Ryan Garcia’s career record
Ryan Garcia comes into Saturday’s fight with a 24-2-0 record, having lost to Rolando Romero last May by unanimous decision and to Gervonta Davis in 2023 by knockout.
Mario Barrios’ career record
Mario Barrios comes into his fight with Garcia holding a 29-2-2 record. His most recent loss took place back in Feb. 2022 in a unanimous decision to Keith Thurman.
Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios main card, ring walk start times
Main card start time: 8 p.m. ET
Main event ring walks: 11:50 p.m. ET (approximate)
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios live stream, price
Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios will stream exclusively on DAZN for $69.99.