Boxing News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Ryan Garcia's Next Fight: Is Mario Barrios Good?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Aldon | Last updated Nov 20, 2025 7:29 PM ET

Boxing superstar Ryan Garcia has officially signed the contract to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on February 21st. The announcement, made by Garcia himself on his Instagram, sets the stage for a high-stakes clash for one of the sport's most prestigious belts.

This fight marks Garcia's second attempt at capturing a welterweight title after falling short in his debut at the weight class against Rolando 'Rolly' Romero . Barrios, on the other hand, has another opportunity to defend his title against a high-profile name and solidify his status at 147 pounds, after his fight against the legendary Manny Pacquiao, which resulted in a draw.

Manny Pacquiao (L) fights Mario Barrios (R) at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

A Fundamentals-First Champion

To label Mario Barrios as anything less than a hardened professional would be a disservice. Per BoxRec, the 30-year-old champion boasts a record of 29 wins with 2 losses and 2 draws, and 18 of his wins resulted in a knockout. He has shared the ring with some of the sport's most fearsome punchers, including Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman. Standing at six feet tall with a 71-inch reach, Barrios possesses significant physical advantages for the welterweight division, which he uses to implement a disciplined, fundamental style.

His key weapons are a steady, controlling jab and sharp, straight right hands.

Analysts like former champion Tim Bradley have highlighted Barrios's solid fundamentals and boxing IQ.

In an interview with Jeff Zimmerman from FightHype, Bradley noted, “It’s an interesting fight; it’s not a foregone conclusion that Garcia is going to just walk through a guy like Barrios. Barrios has got a lot of experience, he wants to hold on to that strap, he has a lot of confidence and ability, coming off that draw with Manny Pacquiao.”

Barrios is not a brawler, but a technician who prefers to manage distance, pepper his opponents from the outside, and capitalize on their mistakes with well-timed counters. This skillset was on full display in his victory over Yordenis Ugas, where he boxed smartly to a unanimous decision and captured the interim WBC title:

Recent Struggles Raise Questions

Despite his technical proficiency and respectable resume, a closer look at Barrios's recent performances reveals significant vulnerabilities that Ryan Garcia will look to exploit. While he holds the WBC title, Barrios could be viewed as the weakest link among current welterweight champions.

His first title defense against Abel Ramos in November 2024 was a struggle. Barrios was knocked down in the sixth round by an overhand right and was forced to survive a fierce onslaught before barely escaping with a split draw on the judges' scorecards.

Most telling, however, was his July 2025 bout against the legendary Manny Pacquiao. At 46 years old and returning from a four-year retirement, Pacquiao pushed Barrios to a majority draw.

While Barrios retained his title, many observers and fans had Pacquiao winning the fight. The fact that an aging, inactive Pacquiao was able to find so much success by out-landing Barrios in power punches 81-75 according to CompuBox, brings up some serious doubt on Barrios's ability to dominate elite opposition. He appeared hesitant at times and allowed a much older competitor to build a lead on the scorecards before rallying in the final rounds.

Here is that CompuBox stats sheet (via Ring Magazine on X):

Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios full punch stats report from CompuBox.

'Pac-Man' had a slight edge in power punches landed through 12 rounds, while 'El Azteca' was the busier man, doubling up the 46 year old on jabs landed. pic.twitter.com/wMipsv8pFB
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) July 20, 2025

A Respectable, But Beatable, Champion

So, this begs the question: Is Mario Barrios good? The answer is nuanced and far from straightforward.

He is a legitimate world champion who is fundamentally sound and has valuable experience on the big stage.

However, the evidence suggests he is far from an intimidating force in the welterweight division. His recent performances indicate a champion who is beatable, especially by faster, powerful fighters who can disrupt his rhythm and test his chin.

For Ryan Garcia, Barrios is a dangerous but favorable stylistic matchup. Garcia’s blistering hand speed and devastating left hook will obviously be his key weapons to victory.

Garcia’s two professional losses have come from renowned punchers Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero. Barrios does not have that same threatening power. If Garcia can bring the power and pressure that Barrios struggled with from Abel Ramos and a 46-year-old Pacquiao, he has a very clear path to victory.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: