Yordenis Ugas (L) trades punches with Mario Barrios (R) during their middleweight fight at T-Mobile Arena on September 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugas won the match unanimously. SARAH STIER/GETTY IMAGES.
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
In a clash of former world champions, San Antonio’s Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) defeated Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KOs) in a pay-per-view undercard attraction to win the interim WBC Welterweight Title with an impressive unanimous decision (117-108, 118-107 twice).
“I’m sore but I’m full of excitement and joy right now,” said Barrios in media reports. “Everything from camp paid off tonight. I’m happy with my performance. I’ve always thought very highly of Ugas and I have even more respect for him now. He put up a hell of a fight and I’m thankful to him for the opportunity.”
“The first knockdown definitely set the tone because early on he caught me with a nice liver shot that slowed me down a little bit,” said Barrios in media reports. “Once I settled down and found that quick little jab, that’s when I was able to start picking up the pace.
As Barrios’ relentless assault wore on Ugas, his right eye swelled and required three visits from the ringside doctor before the fight’s last three rounds.
With a flush counter left hook against Ugas’ swollen eye in round 12, Barrios put an elegant cap on the performance and knocked him out twice.
Ugas’ mouthpiece twice came out as he struggled to stay in the round, which caused referee Tom Taylor to take away a point before the final buzzer.
Barrios set his sights on more significant welterweight battles after obtaining his finest victory at 147 pounds.
“I want to take it further and contend for the main WBC title,” said Barrios in media reports. “I know that there are steps to get there. I’m going to sit down with my team and we’re going to see what’s next.”
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
Get news, handpicked just for you, in your box.
