Ryan Garcia: ryan garcia vs. Mario Barrios live results, round-by-round updates
ryan garcia challenges Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with prelims beginning at 6: 30 p. m. ET and main card ring walks expected around 11: 50 p. m. ET. Barrios defends the belt in the main event against Garcia, whose recent form and disciplinary history are central storylines entering the fight.
Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios
The main event pairs Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) and Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs). Barrios, the defending WBC welterweight champion, won the WBC interim welterweight title in September 2023 unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas, was upgraded to full champion in 2024 and has made two successful defenses since. Those defenses followed controversial draws against Abel Ramos and, most recently, Manny Pacquiao this past July; Pacquiao was 46 years old in that fight.
Garcia is a former WBC interim lightweight champion and is described in context as one of boxing’s biggest stars. The 27-year-old lost to WBA welterweight champion Rolando "Rolly" Romero this past May; that defeat came after a no-contest with Devin Haney in April 2024 that had originally been ruled a majority decision win for Garcia but was overturned when Garcia failed a drug test for ostarine and served a one-year ban. Garcia also shared the ring with Gervonta "Tank" Davis, getting stopped in the seventh round of their 136-pound catchweight bout in 2023.
Event timing and ring walks
Preliminary action on the undercard begins at 6: 30 p. m. ET, with the main card starting at 8 p. m. ET on pay-per-view and main event ring walks expected around 11: 50 p. m. ET. The show takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the main event scheduled in the late hours.
Barrios’ title history and defenses
Barrios claimed interim status in September 2023 with a unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas, was upgraded to full WBC champion in 2024 and has made two successful defenses since that upgrade. He previously held the WBA (regular) super lightweight title from 2019 until he lost it to Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2021. He has fought to draws with Abel Ramos and Manny Pacquiao, the latter taking place this past July and described as controversial.
Garcia’s recent form and ban
Garcia entered the fight following an upset loss to Rolando "Rolly" Romero in May, a bout in which he was dropped and then outpointed. That contest was Garcia's first since the April 2024 no-contest with Devin Haney; Garcia was originally declared the winner but failed a drug test for ostarine after the bout and served a one-year ban. Observers noted Garcia produced a largely lacklustre performance in his last outing against Romero, having climbed off the canvas in round two.
Roy Jones Jr. offered a final prediction and tactical read: "I probably lean toward Barrios, but it’s a tough call. If Barrios can take Garcia’s hook, he’s got a good chance to win the fight. And if Garcia can hurt him, then Garcia has a better chance to win the fight. But I like Barrios as of late. He just got a lot of rounds in against Pacquiao in a fight I actually thought could have gone either way, but he got the better of it. I hope that’ll give him the confidence he needs. " Jones also highlighted Garcia’s left hook as a potential factor and said Barrios must keep his foot on the gas and never allow Garcia a moment to get comfortable.
Undercard results and cancellations
The card features multiple title fights and undercard bouts: WBA super lightweight title — Gary Antuanne Russell vs. Andy Hiraoka; IBF super lightweight title — Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte (Richardson Hitchins out due to illness and the Oscar Duarte bout was cancelled); super lightweight — Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright; super middleweight — Bektemir Melikuziev vs. Sena Agbeko; middleweight — Amari Jones vs. Luis Arias.
Early results included Mohammed Alakel def. David Calabro second-round KO and Joshua Edwards def. Brandon Colantonio unanimous decision with scores of 60-54, 60-54, 60-54.
Conor Benn had been thought to be next for the winner but a shock move to Zuffa Boxing on Friday has complicated the mandatory position and could affect his status as the WBC mandatory challenger.
Shakur also weighed in on Barrios vs. Garcia ahead of the main event.
Closing: The WBC welterweight title fight between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia headlines a stacked Las Vegas card at T-Mobile Arena, with prelims at 6: 30 p. m. ET, the main card at 8 p. m. ET, and ring walks slated near 11: 50 p. m. ET. Richardson Hitchins’ illness cancelled his scheduled IBF defence and several undercard results are confirmed as the night progresses.
