Ryan Garcia captured his first major world title with a commanding unanimous decision win over Mario Barrios to become WBC welterweight champion in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old wasted no time asserting dominance, flooring Barrios with a right hand inside the opening 30 seconds at T-Mobile Arena. From there, Garcia dictated the tempo across all 12 rounds, earning scores of 119-108, 120-107 and 118-109.
Early knockdown sets tone
The explosive start immediately put Barrios on the back foot, and although the defending champion showed resilience, he struggled to match Garcia’s speed and sharp combinations.
Garcia, who has now recorded 20 knockouts among his 25 victories, controlled distance effectively and avoided unnecessary risks to secure the belt.
Stevenson targeted next
After the bout, Garcia turned his attention to Shakur Stevenson, the newly crowned WBO super-lightweight champion who was ringside.
“You know who I want — he’s right there,” Garcia said, inviting a future showdown and insisting he is ready to face any challenger.
Redemption after setbacks
The triumph marks Garcia’s first win since a surprise points defeat to Rolando Romero last year. It also follows a turbulent period that included a one-year suspension in 2024 after a failed drugs test, which saw his victory over Devin Haney overturned to a no contest.
Barrios, who had been elevated from interim to full WBC champion in 2024 and retained the belt through two draws — including against Manny Pacquiao — was unable to withstand Garcia’s relentless pressure.
With momentum restored and a world title secured, Garcia now looks poised for high-profile clashes as he seeks to cement his place among boxing’s elite.
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