Asked directly if Garcia represents the toughest challenge he has prepared for, Barrios gave a simple answer.
“I don’t think so. No,” Barrios said Fight Hub TV when comparing Garcia to the opponents he has faced before.
Barrios enters the fight as WBC welterweight champion, bringing experience against fighters who have already proven themselves at the championship level.
His career includes fights against Manny Pacquiao, Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, three fighters who forced him to deal with speed, power and championship pace long before Garcia entered the picture.
That experience shaped how he evaluated Garcia before their meeting.
Barrios didn’t dismiss Garcia’s strengths. He acknowledged the danger that Garcia poses, particularly his speed and left hook, which has stalled him throughout his career. However, Barrios pointed to his own experience in high-level fights as the difference.
“I just know that I’m a better fighter,” Barrios said. “I’ve been in these big fights before with talented fighters and legends. It’s just going to be me using all that experience.”
Garcia’s profile has grown far beyond boxing’s traditional audience, driven in part by his social media reach and popularity outside the sport. Barrios said that visibility contributes to how Garcia is perceived in public, even as he acknowledges his ability in the ring.
“Ryan is where he is for a reason. He’s really good,” Barrios said. “But he also has that added attention from social media. He’s one of those rare cases where an influencer meets an actual fighter.”
Barrios also believes Garcia may be underestimating the physical challenge he presents. He said his size and presence will prevent Garcia from fighting the way he has against smaller opponents.
“In a lot of his fights, he builds everything by walking guys down,” Barrios said. “I don’t think he’s going to be able to do that if he has someone like me in front of him.”
The fight also represents the biggest financial opportunity of Barrios’ career. He confirmed it will be his biggest payday, surpassing what he earned in previous high-profile fights, including his fight against Pacquiao. That reality reflects Garcia’s commercial appeal, regardless of how Barrios evaluates him competitively.
Barrios’ comments reflect trust built through experience rather than promotion. He’s experienced speed, power and championship pressure before, and he doesn’t see Garcia introducing something completely unfamiliar.
Garcia remains dangerous, but Barrios’ perspective suggests he sees this fight as a test of what he understands rather than an unknown threat. That kind of confidence usually comes from experience, and Barrios has more of it against proven elite fighters than Garcia does at welterweight.
