Mario Barrios retained his WBC welterweight title in a hard-fought split draw against veteran Abel Ramos. Both fighters experienced knockdowns in a grueling bout that showcased their resilience and determination.
Barrios, 29, appeared dominant early, knocking Ramos down in the second round and nearly scoring another in the first. However, Ramos, 33, rallied strongly from the sixth round onward, securing a knockdown and fighting his way back into contention. The judges scored the bout 116-110 for Barrios, 114-112 for Ramos, and 113-113, resulting in a draw.
The toll of the fight was evident on both fighters, with Barrios remarking, “I prepared for a tough 12 rounds, and that’s exactly what I got.” Ramos acknowledged Barrios’ strength and accepted the draw, declining to engage in trash talk. Both fighters expressed interest in evaluating their next steps after a well-deserved break.
