Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Ryan Garcia has tried and failed twice in his attempts to become world champion.

On Saturday night, ‘King Ry’ will bank on the third attempt being the charm as he challenges for Mario Barrios’ WBC welterweight world championship at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and live on DAZN PPV and Ultimate Tier.

Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) tendered a disappointing performance in being knocked down and outpointed by Rolando Romero for the WBA welterweight world title in May. To secure a world championship crown this weekend, Garcia will have to find a way to defeat a gritty Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) who last retained his title in July as a result of fighting a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao to a draw.

With urgency, will Garcia finally make good on becoming a world champion? Or will Barrios prove that ‘King Ry’ is still not there just yet? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for the champ and challenger toward this headlining fight.

BUY NOW: Barrios vs. Garcia PPV for $69.99 / £24.99 or via DAZN Ultimate Tier to get PPVs included in your subscription 

Mario Barrios’ Keys to Victory

Potshot with the right hand

As Ryan Garcia fights his way forward, Mario Barrios ought to look for a sharp right hand to pot-shot the challenger with.

The champion’s right hand landing enough could deter Garcia from stalking forward and throw the challenger out of rhythm.

Pick his spots to rough Garcia up

Whether it is the aforementioned right hand potshot, a sharply timed counterpunch in traffic or flurry of a pieced-together combination, Barrios must pick his spots shrewdly to rough Garcia up. Taking heed from his trainer Joe Goosen, who formerly worked Garcia’s corner, should help.

Accomplishing this with enough successful bursts in spots could have Barrios generating the eye candy needed to sway judges’ scorecards.

Show a tighter guard

Barrios gets lax with his guard far too often and it makes him susceptible to eating punches, especially from fighters who have hand speed like Garcia.

Therefore, if the champ wants to keep his WBC title wrapped around his waist, he must show a tighter, more disciplined guard throughout. Otherwise, he could fall victim to Garcia’s vaunted left hook for a flash knockdown ... or worse.

Ryan Garcia’s Keys to Victory

Establish hand speed early

Knowing that Mario Barrios can be vulnerable to fighters with rapid hand speed, Ryan Garcia should look to test out this vulnerability early and often.

This could come in the form of lasering a jab to split Barrios’ guard or seeing where he gets early with the left hook.

Garcia needs to gain an early sense at how effective his hand speed is against Barrios.

Launch the left hook

Despite Barrios telling DAZN News that he believes Garcia is more than just a left hook, the shot remains the signature weapon of ‘King Ry.’

If Garcia can land a jab successfully and with consistency, he ought to take his chances turning it into a launch of that heavy-handed, quick-rifling left hook.

The shot lands flush and boxing could have a new WBC welterweight world champion right then and there.

Stay even keel

Having witnessed his former trainer, Goosen, now sign on to be by Barrios’ side injects plenty of emotion to charge this fight.

Garcia muster temper the emotions he feels Saturday night, doing whatever it takes to ensure he does not get too high or low and stays even keel. Just as aggression on offense could spell paydirt, it could wreak havoc if Garcia is not careful.

He handles his emotions and Garcia could very well realize his dream of becoming a world champ.

Watch Barrios vs. Garcia only on DAZN PPV

The  WBC welterweight world title is on the line this Saturday - Feb 21 - as Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia go toe-to-toe, exclusively on DAZN. Buy the PPV as a one-off cost or get included with DAZN Ultimate Tier. 

For more information, pricing and to buy, click here.