When Mario Barrios stepped into the ring on September 30th against Yordenis Ugas, not many expected him to come out victorious. Despite being a former 140-pound secondary titleholder with evident skills, Barrios had faltered in the pinnacle moments of his career, notably against Keith Thurman and Gervonta Davis. These defeats led to a common narrative: Barrios was good, but perhaps not elite. Ugas, on the other hand, was a formidable foe, a former 147-pound champion known for his offensive prowess and solid defense.
Yet, on fight night, Barrios defied all expectations. He dominated Ugas, punishing him relentlessly round after round. By the end, Barrios had secured a decisive victory, walking away with the WBC interim title. It was a defining moment, not just for Barrios but also for his trainer, Bob Santos. Together, they had weathered the highs and lows, from winning the WBA “Regular” 140-pound title to enduring painful losses.
With this latest victory, however, there’s no intention of resting on laurels. Santos is already eyeing the next big fight for Barrios, and he has a particular opponent in mind: Errol Spence. “I wouldn’t mind seeing an all-out shootout with Mario and Errol Spence in Texas,” Santos expressed. Though a tantalizing proposal, there’s a hitch. Following a brutal loss to Terence Crawford, Spence indicated a move to the 154-pound category. Santos remains hopeful, even envisioning the perfect Texas venue for such a match-up, suggesting that a Barrios-Spence showdown could be a blockbuster event in the boxing world.
Image Credit: Premier Boxing Champions