Ryan Garcia looks set to challenge for a world title in his next fight.
‘King Ry’ is yet to claim world honours in his career. In April 2024, he missed out on the chance to win the WBC super-lightweight title from Devin Haney after missing weight, and while he won the bout, it was later changed to a no contest after he failed a drugs test.
He returned just over 12 months later when he fought Rolly Romero for the vacant WBA Regular welterweight title, but Romero won the fight and has since been elevated to full champion.
Despite those two defeats, along with a loss to Gervonta Davis back in April 2023, Garcia appears to be on the brink of agreeing a deal to take on a reigning world champion very soon.
Garcia’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya had already announced that ‘King Ry’ wouldn’t be facing Jake Paul next, and it seems it is now known exactly why, after Mike Coppinger reported that a fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios is close.
“Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios are closing in on a deal for a WBC welterweight title fight in the first quarter of 2026, sources told @ringmagazine. Officials from Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, and PBC have been exchanging contracts, per sources.
Barrios became WBC welterweight champion in June 2024, but his two defences to date have both ended in draws, first against Abel Ramos in November 2024, before his well-publicised bout against Manny Pacquiao in July.
Garcia had been linked with a clash against Pacquiao himself, but it seems his attention will now shift to a showdown with Barrios.
