Mario Barrios stopped Ryan Karl in six rounds on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz card Saturday in San Antonio.
Mario Barrios punctuated a strong performance with a brutal knockout of Ryan Karl on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz card Saturday in San Antonio, Barrios’ hometown.
Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) and Karl (18-3, 12 KOs) engaged in a spirited give-and-take fight for five-plus rounds of the scheduled 12-round 140-pound fight, although Barrios was more accurate with his punches and landed the bigger blows.
Then, in the sixth, came his biggest blow. A straight right forced Karl to one knee. He got up, held onto Barrios to regain his senses, started to fire back and then ran into a different problem.
A clash of heads caused a gruesome cut above and on the inside of his left eye, which immediately gushed blood. Karl was allowed to continue but, still hurt, he went down again under a flurry of punches and the fight was stopped.
The end came at 2:23 of Round 6.
“I knew he would come out hard,” Barrios said. “But I knew that his only chance, to come with everything. I was in there, patient, picking my shots. And I started to really land ’em and I got him out of there.”
Barrios was defending a secondary junior welterweight bout.
Mario Barrios stopped Ryan Karl in six rounds on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz card Saturday in San Antonio.
Mario Barrios punctuated a strong performance with a brutal knockout of Ryan Karl on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz card Saturday in San Antonio, Barrios’ hometown.
Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) and Karl (18-3, 12 KOs) engaged in a spirited give-and-take fight for five-plus rounds of the scheduled 12-round 140-pound fight, although Barrios was more accurate with his punches and landed the bigger blows.
Then, in the sixth, came his biggest blow. A straight right forced Karl to one knee. He got up, held onto Barrios to regain his senses, started to fire back and then ran into a different problem.
A clash of heads caused a gruesome cut above and on the inside of his left eye, which immediately gushed blood. Karl was allowed to continue but, still hurt, he went down again under a flurry of punches and the fight was stopped.
The end came at 2:23 of Round 6.
“I knew he would come out hard,” Barrios said. “But I knew that his only chance, to come with everything. I was in there, patient, picking my shots. And I started to really land ’em and I got him out of there.”
Barrios was defending a secondary junior welterweight bout.
Mario Barrios says he’s ‘improved’ after a disputed victory over Batyr Akhmedov last year. He fights Ryan Karl on Saturday.
The last time we saw 140-pound contender Mario Barrios he faced a torrent of boos.
Barrios had just outpointed Batyr Akhmedov by a unanimous decision in September of last year at Staples Center in Los Angeles to remain unbeaten. However, those in attendance – and presumably many worldwide – weren’t convinced.
Akhmedov when down twice in the fight but otherwise seemed to get the better of Barrios, whose face was bruised and battered afterward. The loser outlanded the winner 238-135, according to CompuBox.
Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) was asked about his controversial fight with Akhmedov during a virtual news conference to promote the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz pay-per-view card Saturday in San Antonio, on which Barrios will face Ryan Karl (18-2, 12 KOs).
Barrios wasn’t fazed.
“Cowboy” Ryan Karl has his eye on an upset against Mario Barrios on Saturday. Esther Lin / Showtime
“You’re going to see a completely different fighter on Saturday night,” said Barrios, who was supposed to fight Akhmedov a second time when COVID-19 stepped in. “My last fight I showed the warrior that I am, and during the championship rounds, I made big things happen.
“Saturday night, I’m going to show everyone how I’ve improved.”
One advantage Barrios will have on Saturday: He lives in San Antonio.
“I’m super excited to be back home for my first title defense,” said Barrios, who won a secondary belt against Akhmedov. “… I don’t feel any pressure. I’m fighting at home and defending my title, so it’s just a dream come true.
“You have an Aztec warrior and a Texas cowboy going at it. I couldn’t imagine a better co-main event.”
Karla, a bruising pressure fighter, has won three consecutive fights – all by knockout – since he was stopped by Kevin Watts, including a stoppage of Watts in a rematch.
The Houston resident, known as “Cowboy,” was asked whether anything had changed recently.
“I’m healthy and injury free now,” said Karl, who last fought last November. “It’s been over two years since I could say that. It’s a new start in a way. I’m listening better and my corner is the best it’s ever been.
“I expect it to be a very explosive and exciting fight. … I come to fight. I’m rough and ready, and I’m coming to win any way I possible.”
Barrios says he’ll be ready.
“Ryan definitely comes to fight,” he said. “He’s known for being a pressure fighter. I’ve always considered myself a boxer-puncher. I’ll try to use my jab and fight from the outside as much as I can.
“But I’ve been known to brawl on the inside as well. It’s going to end up being a fan-friendly fight.”
Mario Barrios says he’s ‘improved’ after a disputed victory over Batyr Akhmedov last year. He fights Ryan Karl on Saturday.
The last time we saw 140-pound contender Mario Barrios he faced a torrent of boos.
Barrios had just outpointed Batyr Akhmedov by a unanimous decision in September of last year at Staples Center in Los Angeles to remain unbeaten. However, those in attendance – and presumably many worldwide – weren’t convinced.
Akhmedov when down twice in the fight but otherwise seemed to get the better of Barrios, whose face was bruised and battered afterward. The loser outlanded the winner 238-135, according to CompuBox.
Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) was asked about his controversial fight with Akhmedov during a virtual news conference to promote the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz pay-per-view card Saturday in San Antonio, on which Barrios will face Ryan Karl (18-2, 12 KOs).
Barrios wasn’t fazed.
“Cowboy” Ryan Karl has his eye on an upset against Mario Barrios on Saturday. Esther Lin / Showtime
“You’re going to see a completely different fighter on Saturday night,” said Barrios, who was supposed to fight Akhmedov a second time when COVID-19 stepped in. “My last fight I showed the warrior that I am, and during the championship rounds, I made big things happen.
“Saturday night, I’m going to show everyone how I’ve improved.”
One advantage Barrios will have on Saturday: He lives in San Antonio.
“I’m super excited to be back home for my first title defense,” said Barrios, who won a secondary belt against Akhmedov. “… I don’t feel any pressure. I’m fighting at home and defending my title, so it’s just a dream come true.
“You have an Aztec warrior and a Texas cowboy going at it. I couldn’t imagine a better co-main event.”
Karla, a bruising pressure fighter, has won three consecutive fights – all by knockout – since he was stopped by Kevin Watts, including a stoppage of Watts in a rematch.
The Houston resident, known as “Cowboy,” was asked whether anything had changed recently.
“I’m healthy and injury free now,” said Karl, who last fought last November. “It’s been over two years since I could say that. It’s a new start in a way. I’m listening better and my corner is the best it’s ever been.
“I expect it to be a very explosive and exciting fight. … I come to fight. I’m rough and ready, and I’m coming to win any way I possible.”
Barrios says he’ll be ready.
“Ryan definitely comes to fight,” he said. “He’s known for being a pressure fighter. I’ve always considered myself a boxer-puncher. I’ll try to use my jab and fight from the outside as much as I can.
“But I’ve been known to brawl on the inside as well. It’s going to end up being a fan-friendly fight.”
