Ryan Garcia Wants WBC Champion Mario Barrios
By: Eddie Sanchez
Ryan Garcia has set his sights on WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for his next fight. Garcia (24–2, 20 KO) claims that he’s ready to “go for it” and believes a matchup with Barrios is both winnable and lucrative.
Garcia said he would tell Barrios directly that if he wants to “make money,” he should take the fight. With Ryan’s massive following across Instagram and X, Barrios’ promoters at PBC would likely see the matchup as a financial opportunity.
For Barrios (29–2–2, 18 KO), a bout with Garcia could be the biggest payday currently available. Coming off a draw against Manny Pacquiao and a victory over Abel Ramos, Barrios risks losing his title to nearly any top contender, making Garcia a lucrative and timely opponent.
Garcia also revealed that his pursuit of the WBC title is strategic. If he can capture Barrios’ belt, he plans to use it as “leverage” to set up a unification fight against the winner of the upcoming Manny Pacquiao vs Rolly Romero matchup. Though it is important to note that while Pacquiao has confirmed he will return in January 2026, his opponent has not been officially named.
“I have not said this publicly, but I want Mario Barrios. I’m going to go for it,” said Garcia. “If you want to make some good money, let’s go run it. I can leverage it to, ‘Alright, Rolly, I got that,’ or Manny. If Manny beats him, then I’ve got to fight him. I only know how this money works.”
Garcia appears to recognize that Barrios offers the best pathway to a world title. Other champions, like WBO titleholder Brian Norman Jr., who has a fight coming soon against Ryan’s longtime rival Devin Haney, pose a more significant threat due to their power and style.
Garcia is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Rolly Romero on May 2 in a failed bid for the vacant WBA welterweight title. If sanctioned, a fight against Barrios may draw criticism from fans who feel Garcia hasn’t earned another championship opportunity.
Still, given his star power and drawing ability, a Garcia–Barrios matchup would likely generate major attention and big numbers.
About The Author
