Bold statement: Ryan Garcia proves he’s still a force in the ring by defeating Mario Barrios to become the new WBC welterweight champion.
Fellow American Shakur Stevenson, aged 28, watched with a smile, nodded, and clapped as Garcia declared his ambitions: he aims to be a great champion and isn’t afraid of challenges. He added, “I fought Devin Haney. I’ll fight you, Shakur Stevenson. I’ll fight anybody.” When Stevenson replied that he was “levels above” Garcia at the moment, Garcia responded with a confident warning: you’d need real punching power to push me off—because he intends to keep his style and not fight lightly.
Garcia’s recent career faced a setback: he received a one-year suspension for a drug test violation in 2024 following his victory over Haney, a result that was overturned and recorded as a no-contest. This win over Barrios marks Garcia’s first since a surprising points defeat to Rolando Romero last year, lifting his record to 25 wins and 2 losses.
Barrios, who had risen from interim to full WBC champion in June 2024, had already defended the title twice through draws, including a majority draw against Manny Pacquiao at age 46 in the summer prior. The latest fight thus serves as a crucial moment in Garcia’s comeback and a test of Barrios’ continued dominance in the division.
