Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios Collide in Welterweight Showdown Feb 5th
Former unified welterweight world champion *Keith “One Time’’ Thurman* will
return to the ring to take on former super lightweight world champion *Mario
“El Azteca” Barrios* in a 12-round welterweight showdown that headlines a
jam-packed FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View lineup on Saturday, February 5 from
Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
In the co-feature, four-division world champion *Leo “El Terremoto’’ Santa
Cruz* will battle *Keenan “Bedo’’ Carbajal* in a 10-round super
featherweight match, while battle-tested all-action welterweights *Abel
Ramos* and *Josesito “Riverside Rocky’’ Lopez* clash in a 10-round
attraction. The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT with
former two-division champion *Luis “Pantera” Nery* battling unbeaten *Carlos
Castro* in a 10-round super bantamweight duel.
Both Thurman and Barrios will look to rebound from their first career
defeats with statement victories on February 5 to put them back on the path
toward another world title. Thurman will be returning to the ring after a
30-month absence, which is the longest of his career. Barrios will be
testing himself at 147-pounds for the first time in his pro career and
against one of the best and most experienced welterweights in the sport.
“This is one of the most exciting and intriguing cards from top to bottom
that I’ve seen in a long time. Keith Thurman and Mario Barrios will be
looking to do whatever they can to get a big win in this fight,’’ said Tom
Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Leo Santa Cruz is also sure to be
highly motivated in his ring return and I expect that he will come with
added intensity against Keenan Carbajal. In addition to those fights,
everyone knows the fireworks that Abel Ramos and Josesito Lopez, plus Luis
Nery and undefeated Carlos Castro, bring to the ring. It’s going to be a
special night for boxing fans on February 5 live from Las Vegas on FOX
Sports PBC Pay-Per-View.’’
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, go on sale
Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available at axs.com
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The 33-year-old Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) has assembled one of the most
impressive resumes among the top welterweights of this generation, having
defeated former champions like Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Robert
Guerrero. The Clearwater, Florida native took the first loss of his career
when he dropped a close decision to Manny Pacquaio in a 2019 Fight of the
Year in his last outing.
Thurman proved that he is must-see TV when his welterweight title
unification match against Danny Garcia peaked at 5.1 million viewers in
prime time on network television. It was the largest audience to see a live
boxing match on prime-time network television since 1998.
“It’s been a long time coming for my return to the ring, and I can’t wait
to compete again,” said Thurman. “In 2022, I will remind the world of
boxing that Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman is a fighter not to forget. I look not
to the past nor to the future, I’m back now, and I’m ready to fight. I
dream big, and now is the time to make that dream a reality. Get ready,
because I’m putting in the work to put on a show against Mario Barrios on
February 5 on pay-per-view. It’s begun and my time is now.”
Barrios, 26, will be stepping up to a major challenge when he faces
Thurman. The San Antonio native will be going against a seasoned
welterweight in Thurman. Barrios will own a three-inch height advantage
against Thurman and will look to use that to his advantage in establishing
himself at 147 pounds.
Barrios lost his super lightweight world championship when he suffered an
11th-round TKO loss to Gervonta Davis in his most recent fight on June 26.
The 5-foot-10 Barrios operates in the ring under the tutelage of renowned
trainer Virgil Hunter. The pairing has proven to be successful as Hunter
helped guide Barrios to the WBA 140-pound title when he scored a unanimous
decision over Batyr Akhmedov in 2019.
“I’m excited to be making my welterweight debut against a great fighter and
former world champion like Keith Thurman,” said Barrios. “A lot of fighters
wouldn’t take this fight, but that’s why I wanted it. Both of us like to
throw a lot of bombs and I believe this will be an all-out war. The fans
know I’m a warrior and that I don’t back down from any challenge, that’s
why everyone should order this fight. ‘El Azteca’ is going to make a
statement on February 5.”
A four-division world champion, Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) has established
himself as one of the best Mexican boxers of his generation. The
33-year-old Santa Cruz, who was born in Michoacan, Mexico and now lives in
Rosemead, California, cemented his legacy with world championships at 118,
122, 126 and 130 pounds. He’s coming off a loss to Gervonta Davis in a
lightweight and super featherweight world title bout on Oct. 31, 2020.
Before that the only other blemish on his record was a majority decision
loss to Carl Frampton in 2016, which he was able to avenge in the 2017
rematch.
“I’m excited to be back after a year out of the ring,” said Santa Cruz.
“I’m looking forward to giving the fans a great fight on February 5 in Las
Vegas and hopefully everyone will enjoy my fight and a great night of
boxing.”
The 30-year-old Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs) is the nephew of five-time world
champion, Olympic silver medalist and Hall of Famer Michael Carbajal. But
Carbajal is making a name for himself in boxing and is looking for a world
championship of his own. A victory over Santa Cruz will go a long way
toward helping him carve out his own niche in the boxing world. He thrilled
the hometown crowd at Footprint Center with an impressive TKO victory over
Josean Figueroa-Bonilla in his most recent fight on Nov. 13.
“This is my introduction to the world, and like the Phoenix, I will rise to
the occasion,” said Carbajal. “I’m preparing to be at my very best and give
everything I’ve got against a great champion in Leo Santa Cruz.”
Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) is part of a boxing family out of Casa Grande,
Arizona, which includes his nephew, rising welterweight undefeated
contender Jesus Ramos. The 30-year-old Ramos has built a reputation as a
hardnosed boxer who doesn’t back down from a fight and gives as good as he
gets. He turned the tables on Omar Figueroa, Jr. when he went toe-to-toe
and forced Figueroa to quit on his stool in his last fight on May 1. He
also owns a split decision defeat to welterweight world champion Yordenis
Ugas and showed a flair for the dramatic when he scored a TKO victory over
Bryant Perrella in the waning seconds of their fight in 2020.
“I’m excited to start off the year with a big fight,” said Ramos. “Josesito
is a very good fighter and I expect this fight to be a war. This matchup
will be action-packed and fight fans will not be disappointed.”
Lopez (38-8, 21 KOs) earned the nickname “The Riverside Rocky’’ because of
his go-for-broke style in the ring. He has stepped in across from some of
the top boxers in the sport, including champions Canelo Alvarez, Marcos
Maidana, Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz. The 37-year-old from Riverside,
California is always a tough out in the ring as noted by his narrow
majority decision loss to then-champion Keith Thurman in 2019. Since that
loss Lopez has put together back-to-back victories, defeating John Molina,
Jr. and Francisco Santana.
“I’m extremely motivated and ready to take on my next assignment,” said
Lopez. “I’m expecting a tough challenge from Ramos, but I’m more than ready
to display my skills and prove that I’m one of the best fighters in the
world.”
The 26-year-old Nery (31-1, 24 KOs) suffered the first loss of his career
when he was stopped by Brandon Figueroa in a super bantamweight title
unification fight on May 15. Before that loss, the Tijuana, Mexico native
had blown through two divisions (118 and 122 pounds) with knockouts in 12
of 13 consecutive fights. He scored a unanimous decision victory over Aaron
Almeda to pick up the WBC super bantamweight world title in 2020 and will
look to move back toward a world title trajectory with a win over Castro.
“I am looking to start the year off with a bang in Las Vegas,” said Nery.
“I didn’t want any easy fights, and I asked for the best ranked opponent I
could get. Castro has a great record and is ranked highly in the super
bantamweight division. A win over Castro puts me back in the world title
mix and that’s where I’m looking to be.”
The undefeated Castro (27-0, 12 KOs) was born in Sonora, Mexico and came to
the U.S. as a child, now living in Phoenix, Arizona. Castro has remained
unbeaten throughout his career and can move much closer to a world title
fight with a triumph over Nery. The 27-year-old took a big step forward in
his last fight when he took on Oscar Escandon on Aug. 21, passing that test
with flying colors after he knocked out Escandon in the 10th round.
“I’m super excited for this upcoming fight,” said Castro. “It’s a great
opportunity to display my skills against a well-known and accomplished
fighter like Nery. I’m going to show everyone why I deserve my high-ranking
and earn a shot at the world champions.”
