Barrios has plans to steal show for hometown fans
Mario Barrios was all set to go. He was excited to be taking on Ryan Karl in the first defense of his WBA super lightweight title at an empty Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut on Oct. 24.
But when the fight was postponed a week and switched to the Alamodome, Barrios of course became ecstatic.
“Defending my title for the first time in my hometown is huge,” he said. “I couldn’t be happier. The feedback from my fans has been incredible. We’re going to steal the show.”
Barrios and Karl will meet Saturday night in the co-main event of a four-fight televised card on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
The switch to the Alamodome was made to accommodate fans, making it the first U.S. championship-level show with spectators in attendance since the start of the coronavirus outbreak.
Strict COVID-19 screening protocols will be in effect at the event for fans and fighters alike. Seating capacity will be limited to 12,000.
Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22 KOs)
meets Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) in the main event in a rare dual title affair. Davis will put his WBA lightweight title on the line, while Santa Cruz risks his WBA super featherweight crown.
More than a defense of his title will be at stake for Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) on Halloween. The 25-yearold, who became San Antonio’s fourth world champion a year ago when he defeated Batyr Akhmedov in a controversial decision at Staples Center in Los Angeles, will be attempting to become the first Alamo City champion to successfully defend his title when he takes on “Cowboy” Karl.
“I didn’t know that,” Barrios said.
Barrios can be forgiven for not being up on his San Antonio boxing history. He’s been working hard at his camp in Oakland, Calif., preparing for a tough customer in Karl (18-2, 12 KOs).
“I know I’ll be facing the best version of Ryan Karl,” Barrios said. “He’s expecting the same from me.”
Karl and Barrios became friends fighting on
many of the same cards in the amateurs and pros. It’s the first world title opportunity for Karl, a Milano, Texas, native, and biggest fight of his career.
“I’ve definitely evolved as a fighter,” Karl said. “My trainer (Ronnie Shields of Houston) has talked to me about staying calm and getting ready for the moment. It’s about staying focused and taking care of business. It’s going to be a big Texas showdown.”
Barrios is looking to deliver an impressive performance after his victory over Akhmedov. Barrios won a comfortable and disputed decision despite taking a lot of punishment during the fight.
He left the ring that night with a swollen face and cuts that needed stitches at a local hospital.
“I’m very proud of the Akhmedov fight,” Barrios said. “I proved that I’m a warrior by dropping him in the last round when I had little left. Every great fighter has had close fights like that. It was a learning experience.”
Barrios has not fought since.
“I’m not worried about ring rust,” said Barrios’ trainer, Virgil Hunter. “He’s looked very sharp in
camp with sparring partners who were all heavier than him.”
Barrios didn’t appear to battle the weight problems he experienced for the Akhmedov fight.
According to his manager, Luis de Cubas, Barrios was 7 pounds over the 140-pound weight limit for the Akhmedov fight the night before the weigh-in.
“That was a big factor,” de Cubas said. “Mario was weakened during those middle rounds. People forget that he dominated the first five rounds and had Akhmedov down.”
Still, de Cubas said this fight might be Barrios’ last at 140. He could be moving up to 147.
“I think he has a chance to become San Antonio’s biggest star,” de Cubas said. ”But in order to do that, he needs to not just win Saturday night but look sensational in doing it. If he does that, he’s on the path to becoming San Antonio’s greatest fighter of all-time.”
Barrios weighed in Friday at 139.6 pounds, Karl at 140. In the main event, Santa Cruz weighed in at 129.5 (130-pound limit), while Davis tipped the scales at 129.75.