RYAN GARCIA VS. MARIO BARRIOS WEIGH-IN, PREVIEW, HEATED PRESSER, BETTING ODDS, PREDICTIONS & HOW TO WATCH!
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Las Vegas, NV (February 19th, 2026)– Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions, Oscar de La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and DAZN Pay-Per-View will present a card of eight bouts of professional boxing at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday evening, February 21, 2026, featuring the main event bout of World Boxing Council World Welterweight champion Mario Barrios defending his title against challenger Ryan Garcia in the main event.
Current odds have Ryan Garcia as the favorite at -225 to -260, with Barrios as the underdog at +175 to +198. The winner of the bout could face the 24-1 Conor Benn of Ilford, Essex, United Kingdom, later in 2026, or face Devin Haney in a WBC-WBO World Welterweight title unification bout, making Haney vs. Garcia II a distinct possibility if Garcia wins. A knockout or TKO victory favors Ryan Garcia. A win by decision on points favors Garcia. This reporter predicts that underdog world champion Mario Barrios will win by a 12-round majority or unanimous decision. A draw is also possible, depending on how each of the three judges scores the bout. Both fighters have different styles of boxing, making the judging of the bout and the interpretation of the ring activity challenging in what could prove an exciting, technical, and very close bout.
The World Boxing Council has conducted no mandatory VADA anti-doping drug testing of Barrios or Garcia for this bout. Garcia has not won a bout since 2023, nor has Garcia ever won a single bout in the 146-pound welterweight class. Knocked down in round two by Rolando Romero in May of 2025, Garcia won between one and four rounds on the scorecards versus Romero over 12 rounds overall. Despite the drawbacks, Garcia, by virtue of troubles with the law and suspension for banned substances, remains a fan favorite.
Garcia was suspended for one year after his April 20, 2024, 12-round majority decision victory over Devin Haney was overturned to a no-contest, following positive tests for the banned performance-enhancing drug Ostarine. Garcia tested positive the day before and the day of the fight, resulting in a settlement, fine, and forfeited purse. VADA, the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, revealed tests on Garcia indicated positive results on both April 19, 2024, and April 20, 2024. The New York State Athletic Commission then overturned Garcia’s win to a no-contest. Garcia then served a one-year suspension for boxing and paid a and a ten thousand dollar fine. How Garcia was qualified for this title bout speaks more for the popularity of the fighter than it does for his abilities.
At 6’0″ tall with 71 inches of reach, Barrios stands tall over Garcia, who is 5’8″ and has 70 inches of reach. Barrios has a strong right hand and uses a consistent jab attack to keep his opponents at a distance. Barrios is a pressure fighter, and will up the stakes of his game plan with trainer Joe Goosen in his corner. Goosen formerly trained Ryan Garcia, and this can give Barrios some of the keys to victory.
Garcia has explosive hand speed and a powerful left hook. However, he has yet to demonstrate these assets in the higher weight class effectively. In addition, to defeat Barrios, Garcia must demonstrate superior lateral movement. To put the pieces of the puzzle together, Garcia must overcome the size disadvantage and the technical expertise and ring generalship of Barrios in the higher weight class. In a close bout, Barrios, in this reporter’s view, has the slight edge as the champion on the scorecards. Even BoxRec has Barrios underrated at 24th worldwide in the welterweight division. Without performance-enhancing drugs and with his former trainer now in the opposing corner, Garcia will get outworked by Barrios over 12 rounds.
Barrios decked Yordenis Ugas twice and won the WBC interim Welterweight world title in September 2023, the best win of his career. Barrios drew with Abel Ramos in November 2024 and drew with Manny Pacquiao in July 2025, 12-round draws in defense of his title. If Barrios gets a draw with Garcia, Barrios would become the first world champion to successfully defend his title with three consecutive draws successfully. This statistic has never been considered by any oddsmaker, yet it remains a distant possibility in a close bout with Garcia on the scorecards, which could go either way.
Other Robert Brizel predictions:
Gary Antuanne Russell win in 12 rounds over Andy Hiraoka, in defense of the World Boxing Association World Super Lightweight title
Richardson Hitchins win by knockout over Oscar Duarte Jurado, in defense of the International Boxing Federation World Lightweight title
Frank Martin win by knockout over Nahir Albright, Super Lightweights
Bektemir Melikuziev win by knockout over Sena Agbeko, Super Middleweights
Amari Jones win by 10 rounds decision over Luis Enrique Arias, Middleweights
Joshua Edwards win by TKO over Brandon Colantonio, Heavyweights
Mohammed Akakel, win by six rounds decision over Ronny Reyes, Super Featherweights
RYAN GARCIA VS. MARIO BARRIOS AVERAGE BETTING ODDS:
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Robert Brizel – Head Boxing Correspondent