The WBC Welterweight Championship will be on the line when Mario “El Azteca” Barrios faces Ryan “King” Garcia on February 21, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Many experts question whether this fight should even be happening, largely due to Garcia’s lackluster performance in his loss to Rolly Romero in May 2025. Garcia’s uninspired performance in his May 2025 loss to Rolly Romero raised doubts about his readiness, while Mario Barrios has not secured a victory since 2024, when he defeated Fabián Maidana (brother of Marcos Maidana). Barrios has also had his share of underwhelming performances, earning draws in each of his last two bouts against Abel Ramos and the legendary Manny Pacquiao.
Despite the criticisms, this matchup remains intriguing, especially with the addition of Joe Goosen. Barrios enters as the champion and the more established welterweight, with what many consider the stronger résumé. He has faced elite opponents such as Gervonta Davis, Keith Thurman, Yordenis Ugas, and Manny Pacquiao, going 1–1–2 in those bouts. Wins or losses aside, Barrios proved to be a tough outing for all of them. Technically sound, disciplined, and gritty, he has consistently shown a willingness to dig deep when things aren’t going his way. Ryan Garcia, meanwhile, is a massive social media star but his popularity shouldn’t overshadow his natural talent. Many believe he has yet to reach his full potential and that his biggest obstacle has been himself. He has trained under some of the best coaches in the sport but still hasn’t tapped into his highest ceiling.
Garcia has shared the ring with top names like Gervonta Davis, Luke Campbell, and Oscar Duarte. He also fought and defeated Devin Haney, although the win was overturned after Garcia tested positive for PEDs. Both fighters share one notable common opponent: Gervonta Davis. Davis stopped both, though many argue Barrios gave Davis the tougher challenge. While the referee had to step in to protect Barrios, Garcia voluntarily took a knee and chose not to continue. Will that matter on fight night? Hard to say—but it does suggest Barrios may be willing to go to places Garcia won’t in order to win.
Adding another layer to the drama is Joe Goosen, who will be in Barrios’s corner. Goosen had been a longtime trainer and mentor to Garcia since he was 17 years old. His decision to work with Barrios has caused tension between him and Garcia, which was clearly visible during the press conference. This isn’t the first time Goosen has been in a similar situation as he once trained Joel Casamayor against Diego Corrales, then trained Corrales in their rematch.
There are certainly high stakes here: the winner positions themselves for a massive unification bout, while the loser faces a significant setback.