Mario Barrios defends WBC title against rising star Ryan Garcia

The controversial Garcia returns to the ring following last year's defeat to Rolly Romero.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Mario Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight world title next weekend when he takes on Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas. The 30-year-old Barrios narrowly retained his belt in a draw with Manny Pacquiao last July. Now he faces one of the sport's most unpredictable and polarizing figures in Garcia, who is looking to bounce back from a loss to Rolly Romero and a controversial no-contest against Devin Haney.

Why it matters

This fight features two of the most talked-about names in boxing today. Barrios is looking to solidify his status as a dominant welterweight champion, while the charismatic Garcia is seeking to win his first world title and regain momentum after a tumultuous 2022 campaign.

The details

Barrios will be making the fourth defense of his WBC welterweight title. The champion was the heavy favorite against the legendary Pacquiao last July, but the razor-close draw raised questions about his dominance. Garcia, meanwhile, is returning to the ring after suffering a unanimous decision loss to Romero and having a win over Haney overturned to a no-contest due to a failed drug test.

  • Barrios and Garcia will fight on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • The main card is expected to start at 8pm ET, with the main event ringwalks around 12am ET.

The players

Mario Barrios

The 30-year-old WBC welterweight world champion who narrowly retained his title in a draw with Manny Pacquiao last July.

Ryan Garcia

A controversial and polarizing figure in boxing, the 27-year-old is looking to win his first world title after suffering a loss to Rolly Romero and having a win over Devin Haney overturned due to a failed drug test.

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What’s next

The undercard also features some top fights with Gary Russell facing Andy Hiraoka and unbeaten Richardson Hitchins defending his IBF super-lightweight belt against Oscar Duarte.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated fight between Barrios and the controversial Garcia will be a true test of the champion's dominance, while also providing Garcia with a chance to regain his momentum and win his first world title.