The recent surge of San Antonio boxers that have captured world titles is staggering. The first of this current crop of great San Antonio fighters to capture a world title, "El Azteca" Mario Barrios, is coming home! Barrios returns to the ring on February 11th in the Alamodome. He will fight in the Co-main event of the Rey Vargas vs O'shaquie Foster WBC Super Featherweight world title fight.
El Azteca is currently 26-2 (17) and held the WBA 140-pound world title from 2019-2021. He is however coming off a two-fight losing streak. These are the only two losses of his impressive career after starting his career with 26 consecutive wins. Barrios will look to bounce back against Jovanie Santiago, who is best known for being robbed blind in a fight with Adrien Broner back in February 2021. Three months later, Santiago fought Gary Antuanne Russell and was stopped over six one-sided rounds.
It will be the first time the San Antonian has fought in his hometown since October of 2020 when he stopped Ryan Karl of Milano, Texas in the sixth round. That was Barrios's first title defense of his WBA strap and was the co-main event of Davis-Santa Cruz. The Alamo City native is excited to be back home, saying “I’m even more motivated knowing that I get to fight back at home in San Antonio and give my people a great fight. Everyone is going to see pure boxing entertainment as I’ll be putting my skills on display with bad intentions. I’ve proven that I’m a warrior every time I get into the ring and I’m bringing that same energy for Santiago.”