Ryan Garcia Ready To ‘Put a Beating’ On Mario Barrios

Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) is all set to fight for a full WBC world title for the very first time in his career, as he prepares to face Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) on February 21. With the fight promotions in full swing, Garcia was quick to remind the boxing community that he will not be taking it lightly with his upcoming opponent.

Speaking at their press conference, Garcia stated he was ready to dish out major punishment on fight night.

“I’m on my sh*t, I’m ready to put a beating on somebody. I’m hungry,” he said. “My prediction, there’s going to be a lot of cuts in this fight, and it’s going to be a great fight. The one thing that we do know about Mario Barrios is that he’s a very durable fighter.”

A major change in this fight is that Garcia’s trainer, Joe Goossen, has stopped working with him and is now training Barrios. Goossen, who previously coached Garcia for several fights, ended their partnership after his 2023 loss to Gervonta Davis. Barrios, on the other hand, recently parted ways with his trainer, Bob Santos, bringing Goossen into his corner for his upcoming fight. Garcia has publicly expressed feeling betrayed by this decision, calling Goossen a “traitor.”

In fact, he also pointed out that Barrios got three people who used to train him and not just Goossen, going as far as stating, “This man called The Avengers. I call them The Traitors.”

Meanwhile, Garcia expressed his gratitude to the WBC for giving him the opportunity, following his expulsion last year.

“I’m really honored to be part of this huge fight. This is how it’s supposed to be. WBC, I can’t thank ya’ll enough. The WBC, I love the WBC. Like, you have no idea how much I love the WBC,” he said.

“Turning Into A Circus”

Meanwhile, it looks like Barrios is done with Garcia’s usual histrionics in the lead-up to the fight. Speaking during the same press conference, he revealed that he will bring his top game, regardless of what Garcia puts up.

“Yeah, this is turning into a circus: the fight’s set, February 21st. Ya’ll know what I bring every time I step in there. They said that he’s focused, that we’re going to get a Ryan that’s 100%, and that makes me happy to hear, so when I whoop ass on February 21, there won’t be no excuses,” he said.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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