On February 21, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the WBC welterweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and reigning champion Mario Barrios will take place.
“I think he’s getting a little worn down now. I think he’s taken some good punches and a couple of too many good shots. He’s slowed down a little bit,” Garcia said after a kickoff press conference. “He fights a certain way that’s very generic, but he’s very good at it. … For sure [I can knock him out]. I believe I have the fastest hands in boxing.”
After the unexpected loss to Romero on the Riyadh Season card, Ryan Garcia is now launching an assault on a very appealing belt. It is a title won by Barrios (initially as interim champion) thanks to Terence Crawford’s move up in weight, a major jump in division that, as we know, cemented his legendary status with the victory over Canelo.
The San Antonio native has made two defenses so far. The first ended in a draw against Abel Ramos, while the second was the much-discussed draw against Manny Pacquiao, who was coming out of retirement and who, according to many, should have taken the belt that July night.
This time, it is Ryan Garcia who wants to get his hands on it. “We’re excited for this fight and we want to put on a show. This is entertainment, after all.”
“[Barrios is not looking] really interested in this one. He doesn’t really want this one. I do. That’s what I saw. I had another offer at the time [the Barrios fight was presented] for more money, but I said, ‘Nah, I’m cool.’ I’m going for Mario.”
We’ll see whether Garcia, a boxer who is always highly debated and extremely influential, will be proven right, or if Barrios will secure his third successful defense of the WBC welterweight title.