Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia and Wood-Warrington 2 this weekend
Well-known names have plenty to fight for, plus some other fight announcements
Ryan Garcia challenges Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, on Saturday evening. DAZN will broadcast the event labelled ‘High Stakes’, with both men currently in a liminal career space.
Barrios’ new trainer, Joe Goossen, who once coached Garcia, stated: “Is there an extra incentive for me? No. My incentive is always the same for every fight — for my fighter to win.
“The bottom line is I have nothing against any fighter I’ve ever gone against. I don’t go to bed at night thinking about revenge or anything of that sort. I go to bed thinking how I can better my guy that I’m training.”
The Goossen factor adds an intriguing extra layer. Joe and Garcia had a few words for each other during the promotional press conference. Neither fighter is in amazing form. Barrios arrives off the back of two draws, including a summer stalemate with Manny Pacquiao.
Garcia lost to Rolando Romero last May, so it’s unclear why he’s even eligible for a title shot at all, especially at a weight he’s barely acclimatised to.
Barrios is a steady boxer. I believe his more predictable nature will lead him to do what he does best: leave with the belt by any means necessary; even another draw could be possible.
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Nottingham rematch for Wood and Warrington on Saturday
Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington resume their rivalry with a second instalment in the Nottingham Arena this weekend. Matchroom Boxing promote this 12-round affair, live on DAZN.
“If I go out there and do what I do, and what I've been doing in sparring, I'm on fire at the minute. It's not going to last as long as last time, no way,” said Wood, who declined an exact prediction.
These two first faced off in 2023. Wood won the first fight by seventh-round stoppage but was behind on the cards. Warrington claimed it was halted early and demanded a rematch. This is it.
Despite being former world champions, both men have seen better days. Warrington (Leeds) and Wood (Nottingham) boast sizeable, vocal fanbases, a factor that was emphasised on the road to their first fight. I’m picking Wood to win again, as I believe he is the slightly fresher of the pair.
Arnold Barboza vs. Kenneth Sims announced for California
Arnold Barboza and Kenneth Sims Jr meet at the career crossroads on March 14 in the Honda Center, Anaheim, California. Golden Boy Promotions are running this event to be streamed live on DAZN.
“My first loss didn’t break me, it built me,” roared Barboza. “Built a new team, new gym, new mindset yet still same purpose, same hunger, same goals. I heard the doubters get louder. I saw some opinions change yet nothing about me changed.”
That first Barboza loss came last May when he was outfoxed by Teofimo Lopez in New York. Arnold now tries his luck up at welterweight following reasonable title success at 140 pounds.
Sims, meanwhile, is also arriving off the back of a defeat, making this a must-not-lose for both men. Sims lost to Oscar Duarte by majority decision last summer, meaning three defeats as a pro for the Chicago 'Bossman'.
Expect a Callum Smith-David Morrell shoot-out
Callum Smith returns to Liverpool against David Morrell on April 18. Smith headlines live on DAZN at the M&S Bank Arena, defending his WBO Interim light-heavyweight title.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Callum has been on the road for the most part in his recent career, famously beating the likes of George Groves and facing greats such as Canelo (Alvarez) and (Artur) Beterbiev. Now he gets his much-deserved mega fight in his home city.”
This is a good matchup between two world-class punchers. Neither man has been particularly active of late. Smith was last seen beating Joshua Buatsi in February 2025, the same month as Morrell suffered his first career loss, to David Benavidez.
The Cuban bounced back in July with a win and I am going against the grain a little, picking him to get the job done in April, on away soil.
Heavyweights Sanchez and Torrez meet in title eliminator
Frank Sanchez and Richard Torrez Jr clash at heavyweight on the Fundora-Thurman undercard in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, on March 28. This “co-feature”, which is effectively the chief support, serves as an IBF final eliminator. PBC PPV/Amazon Prime Video will broadcast.
Big-punching Torrez said: “Frank is skilled, technical and dangerous, and that’s exactly the kind of challenge I’ve been looking for. Great fighters don’t avoid tests; they run toward them.
“I’ve prepared for every moment of this fight, and when the bell rings, I’m coming to take over.”
A good clash of contenders here, with the winner moving towards a mandatory crack at Oleksandr Usyk (or more likely a vacant belt opportunity) and the loser being cleared out back to the bottom of the pile.
Sanchez has shown skill and patience in the past, but he can be ground down, as Agit Kabayel exhibited. Torrez is a front-foot, aggressive finisher who has never boxed in this class before now.
How will he fare if Sanchez makes him miss and makes him pay? I know more about the Cuban, so pick him to stop Torrez late.
Image Credits: Ring promotional, Matchroom, Golden Boy, Boxing Digest.
About Steve…
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Previous lives: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine. Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.
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Enjoyed Wood/Warrington last time and agree that Wood is fresher. Warrington hasn't been the same since he got battered by Lara (amazing fight that was) and that was 5 years ago. Warrington never got his opportunity to take Leeds over to Vegas and that's probably on Eddie.
I thought Smith had retired! 14 year career and 33 fights...