On Saturday night, Ryan Garcia hopes to finally get his hands on a world title, as he challenges Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight strap in Las Vegas, and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has provided his prediction for what looks set to be a telling contest.
This will be the third consecutive fight in which Garcia has planned to claim a belt, as the 27-year-old looks to make good on the potential shown earlier in his career and become the dominant fighter that many fight fans tipped him to be.
In April 2024, ‘King Ry’ had been set to challenge Devin Haney for the WBC super-lightweight throne, but he lost the opportunity to win the belt when he missed weight.
The Californian duo proceeded with the fight and Garcia pulled off a career-best win, but the result was later overturned to a no-contest, after he tested positive for a performance enhancing drug – Ostarine – during the aftermath.
Then, after serving a one-year ban, Garcia immediately jumped back into another title shot, but he came up short in a shock defeat to WBA regular welterweight champion Rolando Romero, in an underwhelming night at Times Square.
Now, Garcia is tasked with Barrios, who has held the belt for almost two years but has not won a world title bout since 2019, having been upgraded to champion in June 2024 and drawing in his two title defences since.
Speaking to The Ring, Hearn looked ahead to Saturday’s showdown, forecasting a long-awaited title win for Garcia but warning that Barrios will capitalise on any below-par performance from the challenger.
“It has been quite quiet really, the fight. I think that it is a very interesting match-up because you can’t really make out how focussed Ryan is during the build-up, or what performance you are going to get.
“In the past he has put on blistering performances and then in other fights, he has put on lacklustre performances. He has talked about his problems during the Rolly Romero fight, but I think that Ryan Garcia is very good for the sport.
“Barrios has never really looked that impressive, but he is a good fighter and he is capable of putting a good performance in, if you are not on your game.
“I actually think it is a really good match-up. I think that Ryan Garcia wins but we will be tuning in, for sure, on DAZN, straight after our show in Nottingham.”
Barrios-Garcia takes place at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night and will be available to watch live via DAZN pay-per-view.
