Ryan Garcia wins WBC welterweight title in closely contested fight

Ryan Garcia Wins WBC Welterweight Title with Unanimous Decision

Ryan Garcia has been crowned the new world champion after defeating Mario Barrios in a unanimous points decision victory at the WBC welterweight title bout on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight saw Garcia drop Barrios in the opening seconds and control the contest with sharp combinations. The 27-year-old fighter remained patient after the early knockdown and adjusted his strategy late in the fight, taking advantage of a significant lead. The judges’ scores were 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109, with Garcia earning the victory.

Garcia, from Victorville, California, improved his record to 25-2, 20 knockouts. Barrios, from San Antonio, Texas, fell to 29-3-2, 18 KOs. The win marked Garcia’s second title bout in a row, following a suspension and other controversies that had surrounded him.

In the co-main event, Gary Antuanne Russell successfully defended his title against Andy Hiraoka. Garcia has already expressed interest in his next fight, targeting WBO super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.

Source: Al Jazeera