Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20KO) dominated Mario Barrios (29-3-2, 18KO) to win a lopsided unanimous decision (120-107, 119-108, and 118-109) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to claim the WBC World Welterweight Championship, which Barrios had held since June 2024.
The victory earned Garcia his first world title in arguably the best performance of his career. Garcia started fast, as he caught Barrios flush with an overhand right after his jab to drop him within the first 30 seconds of the bout, signaling this would be his night. While Barrios is known for his durability, he appeared completely bewildered by Garcia’s hand speed. Every time Barrios attempted to establish his jab, Garcia countered with lightning-fast three and four-punch combinations.
Garcia systematically broke Barrios down with shots to the body, visibly slowing the champion by the middle rounds. Even when rumors emerged from the corner in Round 9 that Garcia may have injured his right hand, Ryan was unfazed. He transitioned to a controlling jab to keep the champion at bay, refusing to let Barrios find a way back into the fight.
In the final round, Barrios tried to back Garcia against the ropes in a desperate attempt to get a knockout. Garcia remained unbothered, as he coasted to a win. Following the victory, the new world champ made no secret as to who he wants to face next, calling out the unbeaten Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11KO), who is coming off his own masterful performance on January 31 where he claimed the WBO Junior Welterweight belt from Teofimo Lopez via a wide unanimous decision.
Ryan Garcia Is Officially The #1 Welterweight On The Planet‼️
He beat the longest reigning champion in the division..Wow‼️pic.twitter.com/R9ZQkOJUWC
— AccordingToBoxing (@AccordToBoxing) February 22, 2026
Full Card
Ryan Garcia def. Mario Barrios via a unanimous decision: 119-108, 120-107, 118-109 (WBC Welterweight Title)
Gary Antuanne Russell def. Andy Hiraoka via a unanimous decision: 117-110, 116-111, 116-111 (WBA Super Lightweight Title)
Richardson Hitchins vs. Oscar Duarte: Canceled (Hitchins withdrew due to illness)
Frank Martin & Nahir Albright fight to a unanimous draw: 95-95, 95-95, 95-95 (Super Lightweight)
Bektemir Melikuziev def. Sena Agbeko via a seventh-round TKO (Super Middleweight)
Amari Jones def. Luis Arias via a fourth-round TKO (Middleweight)
Mohammed Alakel def. David Calabro via a second-round KO (Super Featherweight)
Joshua Edwards def. Brandon Colantonio via a unanimous decision: 60-54, 60-54, 60-54 (Heavyweight)