Ryan Garcia made a point to fully comply with the rules ahead of his latest title challenge.
Not only that, the popular boxer was well within the tolerable limit for his seven-day safety weight check ahead of his challenge of WBC welterweight titlist Mario Barrios.
Both boxers submitted video proof of their current weight on Saturday, seven days out from their February 21 DAZN pay-per-view headliner from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Barrios, 29-2-2 (18 KOs), weighed 150.6lbs, more than one full pound below the allowable 3 per cent over the contracted limit at this stage. Garcia was even lighter, clocking in at 149.4lbs on Saturday evening.
Both boxers were required to weigh no heavier than 152lbs (rounded up from 151.4lbs – 3 per cent over 147lbs) seven days out from their title fight.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman made a point to post both results on social media shortly after their separate submissions.
Garcia, 24-2 (20 KOs), was nearly 5lbs lighter than his official submission for the 14-day safety check. A 27-year-old from Victorville, California, Garcia weighed 154.2lbs. However – and as first reported by BoxingScene – his submission came more than three days after the February 7 deadline, for which he was issued a $5,000 fine and the threat of any non-compliance resulting in the WBC “making a press statement and will contact the boxing commission with this concern.”
It never came to that during either round of weight submissions.
Barrios was on time with his 14-day weight check, at which point he was 153.0lbs – a full 2lbs within the tolerable 155lbs limit, or 5 per cent above the contracted weight.
Neither boxer has to worry about further weight monitoring obligations ahead of Friday’s official pre-fight weigh-in.
Barrios will be attempting his third defense as the full WBC welterweight titlist. He previously held an interim version of the belt, dating back to his dominant points win over former WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas in September 2023. He enters this fight on the heels of back-to-back 12-round draws – first with Abel Ramos in their November 2024 slugfest and then with Hall of Fame former eight-division titlist Manny Pacquiao last July 19 at the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Garcia will officially challenge for his first full title, though it will be his second attempt at making it to this point. He was ineligible to fight for Devin Haney’s WBC 140lbs belt after he badly missed weight ahead of their April 2024 clash at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Adding insult to injury, Garcia subsequently tested positive for the banned substance ostarine. It resulted in a one-year suspension and his originally ruled majority decision over Haney being converted to a no-contest.
Garcia’s lone fight since then came last May, when he was dropped early and widely outpointed by Rolando “Rolly” Romero in their secondary WBA 147lbs title fight in New York City.
Saturday’s bout will be the first in Vegas for Garcia since his high-profile, April 2023 non-title fight with Gervonta Davis. Garcia suffered his first career defeat when he was stopped by Davis in the seventh round, though their Showtime PPV event was a massive box-office success.
The hope among all parties involved is that Garcia will bring that type of energy to Saturday’s affair.
Interestingly, his trainer for the Davis clash – Joe Goossen – will be in the opposite corner this time, as he took over as Barrios’ head coach for this camp.
Garcia will be guided by Henry Garcia, his father and original head trainer.
