Ryan Garcia cruised to a lopsided decision win over Mario Barrios on Saturday, winning the WBC welterweight title in the process.
Garcia dropped Barrios in the very first round, and while he could not replicate or better that moment as the fight wore on, he stayed in complete control throughout.
After the final bell sounded, Garcia was declared a unanimous-decision winner (119-108, 120-107, 118-109), as he became a full world champion for the first time.
The precocious 27-year-old previously held an interim world title at lightweight, but Saturday marked a grander triumph for “King Ry”, as he dethroned Barrios in Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena.
Below, you can follow re-live updates from Barrios vs Garcia. Purchase Barrios vs Garcia on DAZN, here, to watch back the fight.
Barrios vs Garcia live
- Ryan Garcia beat Mario Barrios with a landslide decision in Las Vegas
- Victory saw Garcia win WBC welterweight belt – his first full world title
- ‘King Ry’, 27, is a former interim champion but sealed a career-defining win here
- Garcia called out Shakur Stevenson for an all-American super-fight afterwards
Fight report as Garcia seals career-defining win
06:24 , Alex PattleHere’s our main-event fight report!
Thanks for following our coverage:
Ryan Garcia seals career-defining title win with landslide against Mario Barrios
Garcia calls for Shakur Stevenson showdown
06:14 , Alex PattleGarcia on who he wants next: “You know who I want, he’s right there: Shakur Stevenson.
“Let’s go, let’s run that s***. I’m not scared of anything.”
Not Conor Benn, then? Well, Benn’s move to Zuffa might soon cost him his WBC mandatory-challenger status, anyway.
Garcia on failing to score the knockout
06:10 , Alex PattleGarcia: “I hurt him multiple times, but like I said, he’s a tough son of a b***h.”
Garcia speaks after victory
06:08 , Alex PattleGarcia: “It feels great, man, but it feels better to be a child of God, to be honest.
“I dedicate this to my dad, though.” He gives the belt to his father, his head coach.
“I wanted to show my full arsenal. I believe it was a kind of masterclass, but I should’ve got the finish. But I hurt my right hand.
“Mario’s a tough warrior, a fellow Mexican-American.”
And NEW!
06:04 , Alex PattleRyan Garcia def. Mario Barrios via unanimous decision (119-108, 120-107, 118-109)
Never, in, doubt.
Garcia surely the victor by some margin
06:01 , Alex PattleRound 12
Final frame! Barrios comes forward behind his jab, but he walks onto a slapping left hook.
Grazing cross by Barrios, after he dodges a jab.
Barrios lets his hands go in the corner, but he hits the mat after an elbow-led shove from Garcia.
Back up, but Barrios can’t mount the offence he needs.
The final bell sounds, and it will signal a first full world-title win for Garcia!
Garcia closes in on world title
05:56 , Alex PattleRound 11
Barrios needs a Hail Mary as we enter the final round.
Garcia closes in on world title
05:52 , Alex PattleRound 10
A flurry of straights from Garcia now! Left, right, left, right – Barrios eats them.
A trio of shots by Garcia next, and he taunts Barrios with a smirk.
He uses a shoulder roll to evade some right crosses from Barrios now.
Cool, calm, and collected 🥊#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/mo7Iy0ozHI
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Garcia’s right hand injured?
05:48 , Alex PattleRound nine
One-two from Garcia.
The question at this point is: can he actually get Barrios out of there? Or is Barrios just a bit too durable?
Garcia’s father – his coach – tells DAZN from ringside that Ryan’s right hand might be hurting. The instruction is therefore to focus on the jab and left hook, and to only use the cross when necessary.
Garcia wings a left hook, but it’s only a grazing shot. Now he hurls a right hook to the body. Maybe that right hand isn’t hurting too much after all.
Garcia en route to first world title
05:44 , Alex PattleRound eight
Jabs set up a right hand to the body of Barrios, who dives in with a hook and misses.
Now a cross from Garcia seems to clip Barrios behind the ear.
Slick jab to the nose of an oncoming Barrios.
Garcia getting clear, concise instructions throughout
05:42 , Alex Pattle"That left hook is ready" 👀#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/dgWIL4iIxS
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Barrios running out of time here
05:40 , Alex PattleRound seven
Garcia has surely taken every round so far, with a 10-8 in the first.
Garcia walks Barrios onto a jab, followed by a left hook to the body and a right hand upstairs. Nice work.
The crowd coos as Garcia lands another cross. Teasing, long uppercuts with the lead hand, too.
Garcia with an eye-catching combination, but I don’t think it landed too cleanly. Barrios fires back, in any case.
Barrios chases after Garcia and burrows two left hands into the ribs.
Another knockdown?! No!
05:37 , Alex PattleRound six
Another knockdown?! No! Garcia follows a right hand with a push, so as Barrios hits the canvas, it’s ruled a shove.
Now Garcia is warned for weighing down on Barrios’s head in a clinch.
Snapping jabs from Garcia, popping back the head of Barrios. The champ comes back with a good right, though.
Lead uppercut from Garcia, who steps back to evade a brief flurry from Barrios. Garcia with a signature left hook.
Here’s a look back at some of Garcia’s team’s corner work earlier in the fight:
Inside Ryan's corner 🔥#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/0iXWngbh7d
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Watch Garcia’s first-round knockdown
05:33 , Alex PattleDOWN GOES BARRIOS‼️#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/RqeBuRlI1S
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Garcia in total control as midway point nears
05:32 , Alex PattleRound five
Oh! Garcia has Barrios on very unsteady legs, can he find the final blow?
A spearing right cross gets through, and Barrios does well to eat it and jab in response. Barrios is backed against the ropes, however, as Garcia hunts a finish – without forcing one.
Now the left hook lands for Garcia, followed by a right. Barrios takes a deep breath.
The champion tries to command some respect, but he misses with a pair of right hands.
Garcia showing he’s not a one-trick pony
05:28 , Alex PattleRound four
Barrios dials up the pressure here, with Garcia looking to deter the champ with counters.
Heavy rights from Garcia, who’s showing he’s not a one-trick pony.
Barrios jabs to the body as Garcia misses with his trademark left hook. Barrios with a cross to the chest now.
Both men open up, with Garcia tagging Barrios with yet another right – and another, a hook landing behind the ear.
Stern jabs by the challenger now.
Slick Garcia in control but must stay alert
05:24 , Alex PattleRound three
Garcia misses with a one-two, but his speed is on display.
Now a right cross lands for “King Ry”, but he’s moving back in straight lines when Barrios pressures him hard.
Garcia with a pair of hooks to the body of Barrios, who lands one of his own.
Now Garcia is circling slowly as Barrios comes forward. The champ jabs sensibly to the midriff.
A cross troubles Barrios, who hangs on for a moment!
Barrios recovers from knockdown but Garcia still sharp
05:20 , Alex PattleRound two
Barrios gets on the front foot, but Garcia reverses the momentum before long.
But it swings the other way, in terms of ring positioning at least, as Barrios holds the centre and backs up Garcia.
Garcia varies his weapons, with jabs, uppercuts and a long right hook to the body.
Garcia drops Barrios in round one!
05:16 , Alex PattleA good reception for Garcia during the introductions, quite a few boos for Barrios. First bell sounds!
Round one
Garcia with a nice right cross early on, then an overhand and OH! Down goes Barrios, what?! Already!
He’s back up, beats the ref’s count, and Garcia hurls another overhand right at the champ... and another... but Barrios is covering up and absorbing them!
It was more of a flash knockdown, but still, Barrios has to be careful here.
All the talk is usually of Garcia’s left hook, but his right hand is his weapon of choice on his southpaw opponent so far.
Speaking of the left hook, it barely misses for Garcia, while Barrios starts to let his hands go late in the round.
Barrios and Garcia in the ring
05:09 , Alex PattleOkay, after two draws in his last two fights, can Barrios record a long-awaited win?
Or will Garcia finally become a full world champion, having previously held interim gold at lightweight?
We’re about to find out... Barrios and Garcia are in the ring.
Barrios vs Garcia ring walks under way
05:00 , Alex PattleAnd here, we, go...
Twenty-seven-year-old Garcia enters with a 24-2 record, including 20 KO wins.
WBC welterweight champion Barrios is 30 years old and 29-2-2 (18 KOs).
Barrios vs Garcia ring walks impending
04:52 , Alex PattleOkay, ring walks are just moments away.
Which way is the main event gonna go?
How sharp does @RyanGarcia look??#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/puIm5ImpQE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Russell beats Hiraoka to retain WBA super-lightweight belt
04:48 , Alex PattleGary Antuanne Russell def. Andy Hiraoka via unanimous decision (117-110, 116-111, 116-111)
Ooooh a bit too wide there, but Hiraoka was docked a point for low blows.
Russell vs Hiraoka result incoming
04:45 , Alex PattleAfter Hiraoka rallied against Russell, their result is up in the air!
The judges’ scorecards are being collected as we speak.
Main-event ring walks incoming
04:32 , Alex PattleWe’re expecting main-event ring walks in about 15 minutes. Don’t go anywhere.
⌛️ A storm is coming 🥊⚡️#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/8GvlyPJM7i
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Russell cruising against Hiraoka
04:23 , Alex PattleSo far it’s been light work for Gary Antuanne Russell, who is currently defending his WBA super-lightweight title against Andy Hiraoka.
They’re seven rounds in, which means just five rounds separate us from tonight’s main event.
Not long now...
Earlier tonight: Wood beats Warrington again
04:19 , Alex PattleTonight’s main event follows Saturday evening’s rematch in Nottingham, where Leigh Wood went 2-0 against bitter rival Josh Warrington:
Josh Warrington faces stark realisation in dispiriting Leigh Wood rematch
Is Benn’s split from Hearn a generation-defining ‘betrayal’?
04:13 , Alex PattleSpeaking of the Conor Benn chaos, here’s our analysis of the shocking episode, which has consumed the boxing world since Friday night:
Is Conor Benn’s split from Eddie Hearn a generation-defining boxing ‘betrayal’?
Garcia’s chaotic career might just lead him to Benn – the perfect boxing partner
04:04 , Alex PattleFull disclosure: our Barrios vs Garcia preview was published before the Conor Benn chaos on Friday, but it’s still worth a read, of course...
Ryan Garcia’s chaos might just lead him to Conor Benn – the perfect boxing partner
Co-main event under way before Barrios vs Garcia
03:57 , Alex PattleGary Antuanne Russell is currently defending his WBA super-lightweight title against Andy Hiraoka, with Barrios vs Garcia up NEXT.
Don’t go anywhere.
How to watch Barrios vs Garcia tonight
03:40 , Alex PattleIt’s not too late to buy tonight’s main event. Garcia vs Barrios will stream live exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view worldwide, at a cost of £24.99 in the UK, $64.99 in the US, and the equivalent of $19.99 in other countries.
You can purchase the fight on DAZN here, where you can also buy a DAZN subscription (plans start at £15.99 per month).
We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Martin and Albright share the spoils
03:36 , Alex PattleSome lovely singing from Albright after the draw is announced, with Martin welcoming a rematch!
Frank Martin and Nair Albright fight to a draw 🥊#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/hFSqWTSPGc
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Martin and Albright share the spoils
03:31 , Alex PattleFrank Martin and Nahir Albright fight to unanimous draw (95-95, 95-95, 95-95)
Well, that feels a fair result in the end!
Both guys laugh it off, but you know they’ll be frustrated deep down.
Frenzied finish as Martin and Albright go the distance
03:26 , Alex PattleRound 10
Oh, Martin has to hold Albright to stay up – what a turnaround!
Martin leans all over Albright, and they hit the canvas together! After they stand, Albright wobbles Martin again, and there are just 90 seconds to go...
Oh, the action is paused as Albright loses his mouthguard. Could that cost him? He loses some momentum!
Back under way and Martin pours on punches, what a rally.. and out comes Albright’s mouthguard again. He’s warned by the ref. What a bizarre sequence here.
The fight reaches the final bell after a sensational round.
Martin has Albright in trouble late on
03:23 , Alex PattleRound nine
Albright has kept this competitive and stayed in the fight for sure, but this has been a strong round for Martin.
At one point, a southpaw cross had Albright on unsteady feet, and late in the round, Martin buzzes him again.
Still, Albright – bloodied around his right eye – continues to throw back and test Martin.
Martin and Albright go back and forth in chaotic round
03:15 , Alex PattleRound seven
Oh! This fight has come to life in the seventh round, with both men landing in a chaotic exchange!
There’s some great work from Martin, who steps around Albright courtesy of his slick feet, but Albright times one interception very nicely.
Back and forth the round goes, with both men looking a bit troubled in different moments.
Martin doing slicker work around midpoint
03:07 , Alex PattleRound five
Martin is on the front foot and using jab feints to check the range as he comes forward.
Some decent parries, too, as he thwarts Albright’s offence.
A fair bit of grappling from Albright, who eats an uppercut after he and Martin separate.
Oh! Martin troubles Albright with a left late in the round, as Albright retreats.
Main event edges closer as Barrios arrives
03:02 , Alex PattleBarrios is in the building 🥊🔥#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/9EvJ1fF4wp
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Martin and Albright in all-American super-lightweight clash
02:54 , Alex PattleRound two
Nice timing on a step-in, southpaw cross from Martin.
Now he targets the body, before showing off some tidy footwork to get out of Albright’s range.
Martin is turning the screw now, coming forward and giving Albright little space to work.
Title fight cancelled on short notice
02:37 , Alex PattleÓscar Duarte reacts to Richardson Hitchins pulling out of tonights fight 👀#TheRingHighStakes | LIVE NOW | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @ringmagazine pic.twitter.com/ADMsIsaEnf
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 22, 2026
Title fight cancelled on short notice
02:32 , Alex PattleA reminder that Richardson Hitchins was due to fight Oscar Duarte, defending the IBF super-lightweight title, but the champ is out due to illness.
