By: Sean Crose
“JUST ANNOUNCED,” Ryan Garcia posted on social medial Thursday morning. Above that publish on Garcia’s X web page was one other publish, one Garcia had shared from Boxing Kingdom. “Combat Introduced,” it learn. ” Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios. February twenty first. WBC welterweight title.” Garcia additionally posted a video on social media, the place he gave the impression to be signing a contract. “Increase,” he mentioned whereas seemingly signing the doc earlier than him. “Right here I’m going. Signed. I’m going to be combating for the true WBC championship belt in opposition to Mario Barrios February twenty first. Prepare, as a result of I’m coming.” Beside Garcia was what seemed like WBC world title belt.
Say this about Garcia, the person definitely is aware of how to attract consideration to himself. He’s additionally squaring off in opposition to an attention-grabbing opponent this winter, if what he’s saying is true. Like Garcia, Barrios is a person searching for redemption after combating an growing old Manny Pacquiao to a draw earlier this yr – in a struggle some really feel he misplaced. As for Garcia, his defeat final spring on the gloved fists of Rolly Romero took a level of shine off his status as a excessive degree boxer. After which after all there have been the constructive drug exams than led his victory over Devan Haney to be modified to a no contest.
Whereas he earned as a lot fame on social media as he did within the ring, there’s no questioning that Garcia has been a tough hitting and enjoyable to look at fighter in his profession. A loss to Gervonta Davis didn’t significantly hurt Garcia’s status, however weird habits and people constructive drug exams did. The loss to Romero in Instances Sq. solely served so as to add one other query mark after Garcia’s title. A great efficiency in opposition to Barrios may go a protracted approach to repairing the Californian’s rep. A loss, after all, can be catastrophic.
At twenty seven years of age, Garcia nonetheless has loads of profession forward of him, if he so chooses to proceed boxing. He’s by no means received a world title, in any case, so lifting the WBC welterweight belt from Barrios would add a recent new improvement to his boxing journey. And Barrios? He isn’t held within the highest of regards by struggle watchers. He can flip issues round in his personal proper if he does certainly meet and defeat Garcia within the skilled prize ring. Once more, this isn’t a nasty matchup. Let’s see if it really involves fruition.
