The choice of opponent is telling. Barrios is widely regarded as the weakest of the current welterweight titleholders, and recent results explain why. He has gone twelve rounds without a win in his last two fights. In July, he held a majority draw against Manny Pacquiao, who was 46 at the time. Before that, Barrios was dropped and fought to a split draw against Abel Ramos. Those fights showed a champion who could be pushed, hurt and outworked.
For Garcia, that vulnerability is the appeal. After losing badly to Rolando Romero, he needed a path back that didn’t involve another unforgiving puncher or an up-and-coming contender. Challenging Barrios offers a belt without facing the sharpest version of the division. On paper, it looks like the softest landing spot available globally.
That doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Garcia’s loss to Romero raised real questions about where he is physically and mentally. He struggled with timing, balance and defense, and the fight slipped away from him early. Barrios may not be dominant, but he is durable, experienced and comfortable over twelve rounds. He was in the elite opposition and survived difficult nights. A fighter coming off a slump isn’t always saved by facing a vulnerable champion.
Barrios became full WBC titleholder after Terence Crawford moved on, having first picked up the interim belt with a decision win over Fabian Maidana. His best night remains the win over Yordenis Ugas in 2023, and his only losses came against Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman. He knows how to stay calm when a fight gets messy.
Garcia is gambling that Barrios’ recent draws reflect decline rather than style. If he’s wrong, even the most accomplished welterweight champion could still be enough to stop his comeback before it begins.
Some fans on social media are critical of the Barrios vs. Garcia fight being on DAZN PPV. Ryan is coming off that with a loss and a suspension for PEDs. He hasn’t won a fight in three years since 2023.
As for Barrios, he is winless for two years and has not beaten anyone since 2024, when he defeated Fabian Andreas Maidana. He’s looked poor in his last two fights, going to a pair of draws over 12 rounds against 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao and Abel Ramos.
