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Former World Champions Keith Thurman vs. Mario Barrios
Headline In Las Vegas On Feb. 5
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.
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.”
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