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Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia in Vegas, Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington to settle rivalry: Five things to watch out for this week
We’re only halfway through February and already we are getting ready for another huge fight week.
2026 has already seen some massive nights, including Shakur Stevenson’s superb showing against Teofimo Lopez, maiden world title wins for Britain’s Dalton Smith and Josh Kelly, and a big homecoming performance from Germany’s Agit Kabayel.
There are notable shows on both sides of the Atlantic this weekend, with a brilliant atmosphere expected in Nottingham for Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington 2 while all eyes will be on Las Vegas later in the evening for Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia.
Both cards are live on DAZN and here are five things to look out for on what should be a terrific night of action.
The RingCan Garcia win his first world title?
Despite boasting a massive profile and a mouth to match, Ryan Garcia is yet to win a world title.
He gets the chance to put that right on Saturday when he takes on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight belt at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia famously won his WBC super lightweight contest with Devin Haney in 2023 when originally declared a majority decision winner, before the bout was then changed to a no contest after the former tested positive for Ostarine.
A loss to Rolly Romero for the WBA strap last time out hasn’t prevented Garcia from walking straight into another title shot and it could be now or never for ‘King Ry’.
Hitchins aiming to remain on course for lucrative unification bouts
The super lightweight division is red-hot right now and Richardson Hitchins is the latest to stake his claim at 140lbs on Saturday.
The New Yorker makes the second defence of his IBF title against Oscar Duarte on the undercard of Garcia vs. Barrios, with big title wins from Dalton Smith and Shakur Stevenson already this year setting the division alight.
The matchup pits the punching power and pressure of Duarte against the technical skills of Hitchins in what should be an intriguing contest.
A big win for Hitchins could put him in line for a unification bout next as the big players at super lightweight look to cash in on the gold around their waist.
Russell looking to shake up the super lightweight picture
Hitchins vs. Duarte isn’t the only super lightweight title fight in Las Vegas on Saturday, as Gary Antuanne Russell defends his WBA strap against Andy Hiraoka.
After a narrow points loss to Alberto Puello, Russell claimed the title with a wide points victory over Jose Valenzuela and is looking put his name amongst the big boys in the division with another victory against Hiraoka.
The latter arrives from Japan with a perfect 24-fight record and 19 of those wins coming inside the distance, so will be looking to make his return to the US debut a night to remember.
Don’t sleep on this mouthwatering title fight, as it could well steal the show.
(Rey Del Rio/Premier Boxing Champions)
Wood and Warrington finally settle an old score
Almost two and a half years since their thrilling first encounter, Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington get it on again in a tasty grudge match at the Nottingham Arena.
First time around, Warrington boxed beautifully and was clearly in front on all three scorecards before the shock ending came at the end of round seven.
Wood found the target with a perfect flurry of power shots as he floored the Leeds man in the dying seconds of the session and Warrington looked to be on unsteady legs as he returned to his feet.
With the referee still counting and asking Warrington to face him, the latter returned to his corner with his back to the official and seemed shocked when the fight was waved off.
Ever since that night in Sheffield, the debate has raged between the pair about whether the fight should have been stopped or not and there is plenty of bad blood in this long-awaited rematch.
Can Ryan become a two-weight world champion?
It seems like a long time ago that Sandy Ryan defended her WBO welterweight belt with brilliant stoppage victory over domestic rival Terri Harper in Sheffield just under two years ago.
Ryan went on to drop two decisions to bitter rival Mikaela Myer and she now drops a division in an attempt to get back into the big time with a fight against Karla Ramos Zamora for the vacant WBC super lightweight title.
Ryan is a huge favourite to pick up a world title at second weight against Zamora (12-10-2), who has only won half of her 24 outings as a professional.
If Ryan can claim the famous green and gold belt, then there are host of big-name opponents in and around her weight who would be next for her.
3 fight nights, 1 unmissable weekend - only on DAZN
Watch three amazing fights on the weekend of Feb 21-22 exclusively on DAZN. It's Barrios vs. Garcia for the WBC welterweight title on PPV; with Wood vs. Warrington II, and Shields vs. Crews-Dezurn II on DAZN subscription. Get all three all included with DAZN Ultimate Tier.
