MANILA, Philippines — Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao stated he fully expected Ryan Garcia’s lopsided victory over Mario Barrios to capture the WBC welterweight title.
Speaking on February 23, 2026, during an MPBL partnership event in Mandaluyong, Pacquiao characterized Barrios as an “easy target,” while also jokingly revisiting his own controversial bout with the former champion.
Key Fight Highlights:
- Result: Ryan Garcia defeated Mario Barrios via a dominant unanimous decision on Sunday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Scorecards: The judges scored the bout 119-108, 120-107, and 118-109.
- The Knockdown: Garcia established control early, dropping Barrios with an overhand right just 30 seconds into the first round.
- Significance: The win marks a major career comeback for Garcia, who had previously faced suspensions and personal controversies. It also makes him the new WBC welterweight king.
Pacquiao’s Perspective:
- “Easy Target”: Pacquiao told reporters in Filipino, “Yes [I saw that coming]. Barrios is an easy target.”
- Past Grudge: Pacquiao referenced his own July 2025 fight against Barrios, which ended in a majority draw. Many observers at the time believed the then-46-year-old Pacquiao had done enough to win. “I won against him (Barrios). They just made it a draw,” Pacquiao added with a grin.
MPBL Partnership:
Pacquiao made the comments during the official partnership signing between his Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) and SportsPlus. He remains active in both sports management and potentially boxing, as he also commented on Floyd Mayweather’s recent unretirement, calling it “good for us.”