Mario Barrios isn’t cut from the same cloth as some of his boxing contemporaries. The 28-year-old, ever since he was introduced to the violent sport, was never interested in eschewing the best fighters around. Instead, he believed that the only way he could improve was by challenging and pushing himself to the limit.
Having shared the ring with Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman, Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) kept that trend going recently when he took on Yordenis Ugas. Oddsmakers, considering that Barrios has come up short on the elite level, were convinced that he simply didn’t have what it takes to enter that realm…they were wrong.
Barrios dominated his man. He sent the former welterweight champ to the canvas on several occasions and cruised to a unanimous decision victory.
Although he’s already covered in tattoos, Barrios now has a new painting covering his wide back. With a brazen target placed on him by most of the welterweight division, Bob Santos, his current head trainer, is feeling just fine as a nonstop barrage of arrows are now whizzing by his man’s chin. For those who continue to set their sights on him, the duo has one simple message.
Bring it on.
“Mario Barrios is about challenges,” Santos told ThaBoxingVoice during a recent interview. “That’s what he’s been about since day one. That’s why he took on Gervonta Davis. That’s why he took on Keith Thurman at 147 right away. He’s about challenges.”
Presently, the welterweight landscape has a clearcut leader in Terence Crawford, but Jaron “Boots” Ennis, at least in comparison to the other contenders, has separated himself from the pack. Santos, from a distance, has kept his eyes on him
All in all, Ennis has become intrusive to most. The manner in which he gets rid of his opponents is both frightening and impressive. But, despite his skills being accentuated after every violent performance, some of the best welterweights in the world haven’t been too thrilled and hung-ho about taking him on.
To a certain extent, Santos feels for the talented 26-year-old. A fighter of his caliber shouldn’t be forced to beg and grovel. So, with no big fights in sight for the Philly native, Santos is willing to throw him a bone and place him in the ring with his newly minted WBC interim champion.
“Right now, everybody says Boots is one of the most feared guys in the division. He’s a talented guy, I think he’s one of the best in the division. He needs an opportunity to fight a big-name guy. What better guy would that be than Mario Barrios?”