Mario Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) will defend his title against Abel Ramos (28-6-2, 22 KOs) as part of the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano event on Friday, November 15, 2024.
“On Mexican Independence Day, I am thrilled to announce the addition of Mario “El Azteca” Barrios to what I believe to be the most globally consumed boxing event since the advent of pay-per-view, said Nakisa Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions .“Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos for the WBC welterweight championship will be an action-packed fight that will fully embody the Mexican style of boxing and bring fans to their feet.
“The Azteca” Barrios, rated No. 3 by The Ring at welterweightis a rising star in the world of boxing, known for his fiery fighting style and deep connection to his Mexican heritage. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, Mario was introduced to the sport at age six by his mother, Isabel Soto, who took him and his sister Selina to a local gym. Inspired by his cultural roots, Barrios embraced the nickname “El Azteca,” a tribute to the rich history and warrior spirit of the Aztec civilization.
He won his first world title in 2019, defeating Batyr Akhmedov. Barrios later moved up to welterweight, where he faced top contenders, including a memorable fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis in 2021. Barrios has also recently been rumored as a potential opponent for Manny Pacquiao. He now returns to the ring after scoring a dominant win over Fabian Andres Maidana in his last outing as the co-main event of Canelo against Munguia.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Barrios. “The fight on the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card is huge, with millions watching live on Netflix. Abel Ramos is a tough Mexican fighter, as am I, so I know it’s going to be a hell of a fight in front of my Texas folks at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium. I am also excited to showcase my indigenous roots on this global platform. Don’t miss this fight—it’s going to be war, Puro San Antonio!”
Abel Ramos, a contender from Casa Grande, Arizona, is guided by his family’s boxing heritage, Ramos began his amateur career at 13, earning accolades such as placing third in the National Golden Gloves and winning bronze at the 2010 US Nationals . into the professional ranks in 2011, he quickly built a reputation for his strength and resilience, taking on opponents such as Ivan Baranchyk and Regis Prograis. This will be Ramos’ second world title opportunity after a SD loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2020. Ramos’ most dramatic win came in 2020 with a last-second knockout of Bryant Perrella.
“I’m very excited to fight for the WBC title and I’m looking forward to a great fight against Mario Barrios,” said Ramos. “He’s a fighter just like me and I’m going to give the fans at Cowboys Stadium and those watching around the world on Netflix an exciting fight on Friday, November 15.”
Barrios vs. Ramos joins Netflix and MVP’s Paul vs. Tyson mega event, which will also feature as the co-main event, the most anticipated rematch in women’s boxing history between Matchroom’s undisputed super lightweight world champion Katie Taylor (23-1, 6 KOs) ), and boxing frontrunner and unified featherweight champion, Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano (47-2-1, 31 KOs).
Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson will stream live worldwide exclusively on Netflix from the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
A press release by Most Valuable Promotions was used in this article.
