Ryan Garcia ryan garcia beats Mario Barrios to become new WBC welterweight champion

ryan garcia secured a dominant unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in Las Vegas to claim the WBC welterweight title, a victory that matters because it is his first major world championship and immediately reshapes his options and rivalries at the top of the division.

Fast start: a right hand knockdown inside 30 seconds at T-Mobile Arena

Garcia floored fellow American Mario Barrios with a right hand during the first 30 seconds of the opening round at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, setting the tone for a one-sided fight. He remained in control for the full 12 rounds and closed out a unanimous decision with judges’ scores of 119-108, 120-107 and 118-109.

Ryan Garcia's first major world title and updated record

The 27-year-old American, a former interim lightweight champion, took the full WBC welterweight belt from Barrios and became a full world champion for the first time. The win improves his professional record to 25 victories and two defeats, and he has sealed 20 of his 25 victories by knockout.

Style and tools: speed, power and a left hook that mattered

Garcia combined blistering speed and pinpoint punching throughout the fight, showcasing a complete skill set that included a pair of overhand rights in the first round that put Barrios on the canvas and a devastating left hook noted as a key weapon. Commentators and observers described his performance as a near shutout as Barrios struggled to match Garcia’s tempo and timing.

Post-fight moments: Shakur Stevenson exchange and future openings

In his post-fight interview, Garcia called out newly crowned WBO super-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who was in attendance at the arena. "You know who I want, he's right there, " Garcia said. "Shakur Stevenson, let's go!" Stevenson, 28, smiled, nodded his head and clapped as Garcia added: "I want to be a great champion, I'm not scared. I fought Devin Haney. I'll fight you, Shakur Stevenson. I'll fight anybody. "

When told that Stevenson had said he was "levels above" him right now, Garcia replied: "You've got to have some type of punching power to get me off you, because it'll just be a different style - and I'm not going to hit him light. " Stevenson has recently beaten Teofimo Lopez Jr. to become a WBO junior welterweight champion, and Stevenson said on the post-fight show that "He wants to fight me, and I want to fight him, so it should be easy to get done. "

Setbacks behind the comeback: bans, no-contests and past losses

Garcia’s run to this title has been interrupted by several setbacks. He was given a one-year ban for failing a drugs test in 2024 after beating Devin Haney; that victory was overturned and the fight recorded as a "no contest. " He had also suffered tough defeats to Gervonta "Tank" Davis and to Rolando "Rolly" Romero. The win over Barrios was his first since a shock points loss to Romero last year.

Barrios’s recent history and Garcia’s assessment of his opponent

Mario Barrios had been upgraded from interim to full WBC champion in June 2024 and had made two previous successful defences draws, including retaining the title with a majority draw against a then 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao last summer. Garcia paid tribute to his opponent and reflected on the fight, saying he "hurt him multiple times" and calling Barrios "a tough warrior, a fellow Mexican-American. " Garcia also dedicated the victory to his father, who is his head coach, handing the belt to him in the ring.

Garcia said he aimed to show his full arsenal and called the performance a kind of "masterclass, " while acknowledging he had hurt his right hand and saying, "I should've got the finish. But I hurt my right hand. " Observers noted the win opens a wide pool of lucrative opportunities for Garcia’s first title defence and that he will have multiple challengers to choose from.

• Result: Ryan Garcia def. Mario Barrios unanimous decision (119-108, 120-107, 118-109).