In a dazzling display of speed and precision, Ryan Garcia ascended to the pinnacle of the welterweight division, claiming the WBC title with a dominant points victory over Mario Barrios at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight, held on Saturday, marked Garcia’s first world championship, a milestone achieved in spectacular fashion.
Garcia, with a record of 25-2 and 20 KOs, entered the ring with a point to prove. His last outing, a loss to Rolando Romero, had left many questioning his path to a title shot. However, any doubts were swiftly dispelled as Garcia unleashed a relentless assault on Barrios, who had previously drawn with the legendary Manny Pacquiao.
The fight’s trajectory was set within the first 30 seconds, with Garcia landing a powerful right hand that sent Barrios crashing to the canvas. The champion managed to survive the early onslaught, but Garcia’s speed and accuracy continued to pose significant problems. By the third round, Garcia’s combinations and counterpunches were landing with alarming regularity, leaving Barrios struggling to keep pace.
As the fight progressed, Garcia’s dominance became increasingly evident. Right hands found their mark with ease, and a particularly devastating combination in the fifth round left Barrios visibly wobbled. Despite a slight dip in output during the eighth and ninth rounds, possibly due to an injury to Garcia’s right hand, the challenger maintained control, using his jab to keep Barrios at bay.
When the final bell rang, the outcome was never in doubt. The judges’ scorecards read 120-107, 119-108, and 118-109, all in favor of Garcia. The newly crowned champion wasted no time in calling out Shakur Stevenson, signaling his intent to unify the division and cement his legacy.
In the co-main event, Gary Antuanne Russell successfully defended his WBA super lightweight title against the previously unbeaten Andy Hiraoka. Russell’s victory, scored 117-110 and 116-111 twice, was a testament to his resilience and skill, despite a point deduction for low blows in the tenth round.
The undercard also delivered its share of excitement. Frank Martin and Nahir Albright fought to a draw in a closely contested super lightweight bout, with all three judges scoring the fight 95-95. Bektemir Melikuziev made a successful return to the ring, stopping Sena Agbeko in the seventh round of their super middleweight clash. Amari Jones continued his rise in the middleweight division with a fourth-round stoppage of Luis Arias, while Mohammed Alakel secured a quick victory in the super featherweight division.
Garcia’s triumphant performance has undoubtedly shaken up the welterweight landscape. His call-out of Shakur Stevenson sets the stage for a potential showdown that could further elevate his status in the sport. As the dust settles on this memorable night of boxing, one thing is clear: Ryan Garcia has arrived, and the welterweight division will never be the same.
Team_TBE Boxing
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