By Graham Ilford: Fans are up in arms about Ryan Garcia getting a title shot against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for early 2026.
The hardcore fans that follow the sport are raking Ryan (24-2, 20 KOs) over the coals in reacting to the news by boxing insider Mike Coppinger over a “deal” being close for Kingry to challenge Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) in 2026.
Critics of this fight point out that the 27-year-old Ryan Garcia isn’t ranked in the top 15 by any of the four sanctioning bodies at 147. Moreover, he’s coming off a loss to Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero earlier this year on May 2, 2025, at Times Square in New York. Rolly beat Garcia by a 12-round unanimous decision after dropping him in round two.
Two Years Without a Win
In Kingry’s fight before that, it was a no-contest against Devin Haney after he tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine on April 20, 2024, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Golden Boy promoted Ryan Garcia hasn’t won a fight in two years since his eighth-round knockout of Oscar Duarte on December 2, 2023. Let that sink in—two years without a win.
Cissokho Gets Passed Over
#2 WBC contender Souleymane Cissokho defeated Egidijus Kavaliauskas by a 12-round unanimous decision on May 10, 2025. Rightfully, Souleymane should be the one challenging Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title if boxing were working right, not the unranked Ryan Garcia.
Run the Gauntlet, Ryan
Fans on social media argue that Ryan should earn his title shot against Barrios by running a gauntlet like other warriors, by getting on the frontlines and facing these contenders:
- Raul Curiel
- Devin Haney
- Jack Catterall
- Shakhram Giyasov
- Karen Chukhadzhian
Graham Ilford is a veteran boxing columnist who returned to writing after a decade-long hiatus. Known for his sardonic tone and dry humor, he examines promoters, fighters, and the business of the sport with the perspective of someone who has watched every era of hype repeat itself.