S.A. welterweight Barrios eyeing signature win
Mario Barrios is no stranger to big fights and the big stage, having gone up against the likes of Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Keith Thurman atop pay-per-view cards in Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Figuring out how to win these megabouts is another matter. The San Antonio welterweight is still in search of that career-defining victory against top-flight competition.
Barrios (27-2, 18 KOS) is hoping it comes Saturday night on the Canelo Alvarez-jermell Charlo Showtime Pay-per-view undercard when he takes on Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas (27-5, 12 KOS) at T-mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a 12-round battle for the interim WBC 147-pound crown.
In many ways, it’s a fight for survival, a crossroads bout for both former champions who have their sights set on another climb to the welterweight mountaintop.
“Both of us have a lot to lose with this fight,” Barrios said.
“Survival” may be a bit of an overstatement for Barrios, who at 28 is still in his prime. But he is 0-2 in fights against elite competition, and while a loss to Ugas, a big-time opponent, would not be a career-killer, it would be a major setback.
The road back to contention in the deep 147pound division would be a long one.
“I’m grateful to still be getting these opportunities,” Barrios said.
Opportunities – major paydays against top-shelf competition – that could dry up at least for a long while with a defeat.
This is something of a crossroads fight for Ugas, as well.
At 37, Ugas is nine years older than Barrios, but he has shown no signs of decline. He shocked the legendary Manny Pacquiao for the WBA title just two years ago and held his own against Errol Spence Jr. in their welterweight unification clash in May 2022 before suffering
a fractured orbital bone in a 10th-round TKO loss.
Ugas has not fought in 16 months, which means he has a lot riding on Saturday’s outcome, too.
“I’ve spent seven years fighting the best in the division and I’m going to answer all the doubters on Saturday,’ said Ugas, who won a bronze medal for Cuba as a lightweight at the 2008 Olympics and is
5-0 in Las Vegas as a pro. “I’ve been overcoming obstacles my whole career.”
Barrios, who moved his training camp from California’s Bay Area to Las Vegas to work with 2022 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year Bob Santos, said Ugas is not your prototypical Cuban fighter.
“He comes forward and will trade with you on the
inside,” Barrios said. “I know he’s a dangerous fighter with a lot of skills. It’s going to take everything I’ve learned in and out of the ring to come out with the victory.”
“This would be the signature win of his career,” said Santos, who used to train Ugas. “Ugas is a dangerous counterpuncher, so we can’t go in there with reckless abandon. He’s the naturally bigger guy, so we’re going to have to be smart and pick our shots.
“We have an understanding of what he likes to do, what his sweet spots are. We have to make sure he’s not in his comfort zone.”
Santos said Barrios is well aware of what’s at stake.
“He’s laser focused,” Santos said. “I haven’t seen him this focused in a long, long time.”
Oct. 7 card is taking shape
San Antonio fighters Joshua Moreno, Jorge Hernandez, David Cardenas and Kevin Ayala highlight a 10-bout Team Morones Boxing card Oct. 7 at Randy’s Ballroom.
First bell is 7:40 p.m. Doors open at 6. For tickets call 210-449-5599.
The official fight press conference is 5:30 p.m., Saturday, at Dave & Busters, 440 Crossroads Blvd., followed by a free showing of the Canelo vs. Charlo PPV fight.