Ryan Garcia Secures WBC Welterweight Championship in Unanimous Decision Victory

2026-02-22 general

Las Vegas, Sunday, 22 February 2026.
Ryan Garcia dominated Mario Barrios to win the WBC Welterweight title, securing a unanimous decision victory highlighted by a stunning knockdown in the opening 30 seconds.

A Decisive Victory in Las Vegas

On Saturday, February 21, 2026, Ryan Garcia successfully captured the WBC Welterweight title, defeating the defending champion Mario Barrios via a unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas [1][2]. The judges scored the bout 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109 in favor of Garcia, reflecting a fight where the challenger controlled the pace and output from the onset [1][8]. This victory marks Garcia’s first major world title, a significant milestone in a career previously marred by controversy, including a no-contest ruling against Devin Haney in April 2024 and a loss to Rolando Romero in May 2025 [2][3].

Tactical Dominance From the Opening Bell

The tone of the match was established immediately. Within the first 30 seconds of the opening round, Garcia landed a powerful overhand right that sent Barrios to the canvas [4][6]. This early knockdown created a deficit that Barrios struggled to overcome throughout the twelve-round contest. Analysts noted that Garcia effectively utilized his hand speed to split Barrios’ guard, landing combinations that kept the defending champion on the defensive [6]. By the halfway point of the fight, Garcia had already built a commanding lead, with scorecards showing him ahead 60-53 through six rounds [3][5]. Despite the high stakes of the event, Barrios was unable to mount a significant counter-offensive, with commentators observing that he appeared “outclassed” by Garcia’s strategic precision [1].

Championship Context and Undercard Results

For Mario Barrios, this defeat ends a championship reign that began when he won the interim title in September 2023, before being elevated to full champion in 2024 [2]. Leading up to this bout, Barrios had retained his belt through draws against Abel Ramos and, most recently, Manny Pacquiao in July 2025 [2]. The event at T-Mobile Arena also featured significant activity in the super lightweight division. On the undercard, Gary Antuanne Russell secured the WBA Super Lightweight title by defeating Andy Hiraoka via unanimous decision with scores of 117-110, 116-111, and 116-111 [1][8]. Additionally, the bout between Frank Martin and Nahir Albright concluded in a unanimous draw, with all three judges scoring the contest 95-95 [1][3].

Sources

Professional Boxing Sports Entertainment