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Garcia looked the part of champion on Saturday in thrashing Barrios for the WBC crown
For the first time in his career, Ryan Garcia can call himself a world champion. Garcia dominated Mario Barrios on Saturday night to claim the WBC welterweight championship.
It took less than 30 seconds into the first round for Garcia to show that it would be his night, unleashing a pair of heavy right hands that sent Barrios to the canvas. While Barrios beat the count, it was clear he was shocked by the speed and power from Garcia.
The right hand may have been the biggest surprise in Garcia’s game on Saturday. Mostly known as a one-handed puncher with a powerful left hook, Garcia’s right hand was finding a home regularly for the first half of the fight before he began to tell his corner that the hand was bothering him.
“It was one of the ones I wanted to show my whole arsenal,” Garcia said after the fight. “I believe it was a masterclass, but I should have gotten the knockout. I have to grade myself on that. … Early in my career, all my knockouts were with the right hand, but I had to let it heal a little bit. I had a lot of injuries with my right hand, so I had to master my left hook. My right hand was working really good today.”
Barrios never really got out of first gear in the fight, rather than jabbing his way inside, he followed Garcia around the ring, where Garcia’s significant advantage in hand speed was a major factor. As the rounds ticked by, Barrios didn’t adjust his approach and Garcia piled up rounds on the scorecards, though Barrios showed plenty of heart and toughness by continuing to fight all the way to the scorecards.
Now a world champion and a massive star in the sport, Garcia is in a power position. He made no secret of his desires for his next opponent after the fight.
“You know who I want,” Garcia said. “He’s right there. Shakur Stevenson, let’s go. Let’s run that shit. I want to be a great champion and I’m not scared of shit. I fought Devin Haney, I’ll fight Shakur Stevenson. I’ll fight anybody. … The thing is, you’ve got to have some type of punching power to get me off of you because it’ll be a different style and I’m not going to hit him light. I want that fight.”
Stevenson is coming off his own masterful performance, pitching his own near shutout against Teofimo Lopez to win the WBO junior welterweight title.
CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire way on Saturday with the live results and highlights below.
Barrios vs. Garcia fight card, results
- Ryan Garcia def. Mario Barrios (c) via unanimous decision (119-108, 120-107, 118-109)
- Gary Antuanne Russell (c) def. Andy Hiraoka via unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 116-111)
- Frank Martin vs. Nahir Albright ends in a unanimous draw (95-95, 95-95, 95-95)
- Bektemir Melikuziev def. Sena Agbeko via TKO, Round 7
- Amari Jones def. Luis Arias via fourth-round TKO
Barrios vs. Garcia scorecard
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barrios (c) | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 107 |
| Garcia | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 120 |
Official result: Ryan Garcia def. Mario Barrios via unanimous decision (119-108, 120-107, 118-109) to win the WBC welterweight title
From the moment the first right hand landed for Garcia, it was clear this would be his night. Barrios had no answer for Garcia’s speed or power and it meant a dominant night for the now-WBC welterweight champion. This was not the Garcia who lost a dreadful fight against Rolando Romero.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 12: 10-9 Garcia (120-107)
Barrios did not come out with any sense of urgency to try and score a knockout to retain his title. Instead, Barrios mostly followed Garcia around the ring, throwing punches in short spurts but not connecting with anything big before getting cracked by Garcia. The final round in a masterful performance by Garcia, who knocked down Barrios early and left him unwilling or unable to ever hit a new gear. The scorecards are a mere formality here, Garcia is the new WBC welterweight champion.
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Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 11: 10-9 Garcia (110-98)
Garcia slowed things down a bit in the round, but Barrios didn’t seem interested in forcing the issue, instead seeming content to try and make it to the end of the fight. Barrios did land a good right hand, which only spurred Garcia on to thump him back with some more big power shots.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 10: 10-9 Garcia (100-89)
Garcia landed a heavy left hook that backed Barrios up. A big combination followed for Garcia, which left Barrios looking hurt. Barrios caught Garcia along the ropes and threw an extended combination of body shots before backing off. Garcia threw three punches to the head and then dug in to the body. Another Garcia round in the books.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 9: 10-9 Garcia (90-80)
Jab, straight right from Garcia to open the round, the same punches that have been so effective. Garcia’s father said on the broadcast that Ryan’s right hand is hurt. Barrios landed a few punches along the ropes before Garcia clinched and went back to the center of the ring. Garcia continued to land hard jabs. Garcia whipped a right hand to the body.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 8: 10-9 Garcia (80-71)
Garcia popped out several stiff jabs and mixed in body punches, seemingly landing anything he wanted. Garcia continued to swing in left hooks and straight rights when Barrios would start to look for the jab, keeping Barrios completely off balance. Barrios landed a few punches along the ropes at the end of the round.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 7: 10-9 Garcia (70-62)
Garcia’s right hand connected early again. Garcia landed another heavy right and then a flurry as Barrios went back to the ropes. Garcia again ripped to the body and then threw a big combination to the head. Barrios simply has not done enough and it is allowing Garcia to comfortably sit down and throw big shots with little fear of any fire coming back at him.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 6: 10-9 Garcia (60-53)
Barrios hit the canvas early but it was ruled a push after a Garcia punch. Barrios landed a right hand and Garcia came back with a three-punch combination. Garcia was warned a few more times for hitting behind the head during the round. Garcia landed a hard left to the body and then landed a left hook to the head. This is just a pure, one-sided beating.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 5: 10-9 Garcia (50-44)
Garcia again opened the round with big right hands, and Barrios was stumbled early. The right got in a few more times for Garcia. Garcia continued coming forward, throwing heavy power shots as Barrios just plodded forward not really doing much of anything offensively. A big straight right landed for Garcia and a left came right behind it.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 4: 10-9 Garcia (40-35)
Garcia again came out hot, throwing big punches with both hands. Garcia landed a right hand that moved Barrios several steps. Garcia kept up the pressure with those power shots as Barrios mostly threw single jabs at a time. Garcia also continued to mix in body punches. Garcia landed another bomb of a right hand, getting completely around Barrios’ guard. Garcia added a few jabs late.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 3: 10-9 Garcia (30-26)
Garcia came out throwing heavy shots again. Garcia got in with a straight right hand. Barrios landed a hard jab as Garcia stepped in. Garcia threw the right hand again. Barrios landed to the body. Garcia landed a right-hand counter as Barrios came forward. Garcia landed most of the shots in a five-punch combination. Barrios had a bit of success late in the round, but another in the books for Garcia, who is just doing more in addition to landing the heavier punches.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 2: 10-9 Garcia (20-17)
Garcia continued to throw the right hand, an unusual move for a fighter known almost exclusively for his left hand. Garcia received a second warning for punches to the back of te head. Barrios threw a good straight right hand before Garcia ripped a few punches to the body. Barrios fired back with some good shots after a Garcia uppercut. Garcia landed a left hook and then threw a flurry of shots that missed. Barrios dug in his own body shot. Barrios fought his way back into the fight a bit that round, though Garcia probably still took it.
Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia — Round 1: 10-8 Garcia
Garcia came to the center of the ring and threw a few quick straight punches before a jab and then a right hand over the top. Another right from Garcia and Barrios was down. Barrios beat the count and Garcia was immediately back to firing power punches before Barrios came back with a straight right. Garcia ripped a right hand to the body. Garcia again went down to the body. Garcia landed a three-punch combination, continuing to dominate the opening round. Barrios looks alright after the knockdown, but what a disastrous start to the round for him.
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