Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, announced a welterweight championship showdown between WBC champion Mario Barrios (pictured) and social media favorite Ryan Garcia in a twelve-round contest set to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 21st. It will be streamed live worldwide exclusively on DAZN. Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) captured the WBC welterweight title in September 2023 and has retained the title twice, including a split draw against Abel Ramos in November 2024 and a majority draw against former world champion Manny Pacquiao in July 2025. Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs, 1 no nontest) will make his first world title attempt at 147 pounds. The former WBC interim lightweight title holder has recorded 20 knockouts over the course of his professional career and has competed against several of the top-ranked fighters in the division. Barrios and Garcia both bring speed, explosive power, and championship experience to the ring.

 

Barrios said: “Becoming WBC welterweight world champion was more than a moment—it was a promise to my family, my city, and everyone who believed in the grind when no one was watching. San Antonio built me, and every sacrifice I’ve made comes with me into that ring. This is my division, my time, and I’m ready to show the world why the WBC title stays right here.”

 

Garcia said: “I will be World Champion on February 21st.”

 

The world-title clash follows the big December show in Riyadh, which showcased some of Japan’s biggest boxing talents. Naoya “The Monster” Inoue successfully retained his undisputed super-bantamweight world title that night. Ahead of the match-up in Las Vegas, boxing turns its attention to the highly-anticipated showdown between pound-for-pound sensation Shakur Stevenson and former unified world champion Teofimo Lopez at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City, on Saturday January 31st.