Las Vegas played host to a compelling night of boxing on Saturday, February 21, headlined by the WBC welterweight title clash between champion Mario Barrios and challenger Ryan Garcia. The event, streamed live on DAZN PPV and DAZN Ultimate Tier, delivered a full card of action, featuring three world title fights and several notable performances from rising contenders. The main event saw Barrios defending his title against Garcia, a highly anticipated matchup in the 147-pound division.
Beyond the main event, the undercard provided a showcase of talent, with several fighters making significant statements. From competitive draws to decisive knockouts, the evening offered a diverse range of boxing action for fans worldwide. The card’s depth, with multiple championship bouts, underscored its importance in the current boxing landscape, drawing attention from both casual fans and dedicated followers of the sport. The event’s broadcast reach extended globally through DAZN, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Undercard Results: A Night of Upsets and Dominance
The undercard was packed with intriguing matchups, setting the stage for the main event. In a closely contested bout, Frank Martin and Nahir Albright fought to a 10-round draw. Despite controlling the early stages with his left hand, Martin saw Albright mount a comeback in the second half, utilizing pressure and body work. A controversial pause in the 10th round, due to a mouthpiece issue, added to the drama, but ultimately the judges scored the fight 95-95 across the board. Martin’s record now stands at 19-1-1 (13 KOs), even as Albright improved to 17-2-1 (7 KOs).
Bektemir Melikuziev delivered a dominant performance, securing a unanimous decision victory over Sena Agbeko in their super middleweight contest. Melikuziev controlled the fight with his southpaw stance and relentless body attack, consistently hurting Agbeko throughout the ten rounds. The judges’ scorecards reflected his dominance, and Melikuziev advanced to 17-1 (10 KOs). Amari Jones also impressed, stopping veteran Luis Arias after four rounds of action. Jones dropped Arias early and continued to apply pressure, forcing the referee to halt the fight after the fourth round, improving his record to 16-0 with 14 knockouts.
Joshua Edwards remained undefeated, earning a six-round unanimous decision over Brandon Colantonio. Edwards utilized his jab and consistent pressure to control the fight, winning every round on all three scorecards by a margin of 60-54. His record now stands at 6-0 with 5 knockouts. Mohammed Alakel continued his undefeated streak, stopping David Calabro in the second round of their super featherweight preliminary fight. Alakel ended the bout with two left hooks to the body, forcing a stoppage at 2:27 of the second round, moving to 8-0 with 2 knockouts.
Main Event Showdown: Barrios and Garcia Clash
Mario Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) entered the fight looking to solidify his position as WBC welterweight champion, particularly after back-to-back draws, including a bout with Manny Pacquiao. Ryan Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs), stepping into his third world title shot, aimed to finally break through at welterweight after a previous setback against Rolando Romero. The stakes were high for both fighters, with the championship title and future opportunities hanging in the balance.
Broadcast Details and Viewing Options
The event was broadcast live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the preliminary card beginning at 3:00 PM PT (6:00 PM ET, 11:00 PM GMT). The PPV main card commenced at 5:00 PM PT (8:00 PM ET, 1:00 AM GMT), with the main event ringwalks for Barrios and Garcia scheduled for approximately 9:00 PM PT (12:00 AM ET, 5:00 AM GMT on Sunday in the UK). Viewers could access the fight through DAZN PPV, with a one-off purchase price of $69.99 (US) or £24.99 (UK), which included a seven-day free trial of the DAZN platform. A PPV bundle, priced at $99.99 (US) or £39.99 (UK), included both the Barrios vs. Garcia fight and the upcoming Wilder vs. Chisora bout on April 4. DAZN Ultimate Tier subscribers could access the event as part of their monthly subscription, costing $44.99 per month (US) or £24.99 per month (UK).
The night of fights delivered a compelling showcase of boxing talent, with both established champions and rising contenders vying for victory. The results from the undercard set the stage for the main event, and the broadcast options ensured that fans around the world could witness the action. As the dust settles, the boxing world now looks ahead to the next chapter in these fighters’ careers and the continued evolution of the sport.
Stay tuned to archyde.com for further analysis and updates on the fallout from this exciting event and the future plans of both Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia. We encourage you to share your thoughts and reactions in the comments below.
