SAN ANTONIO – The new year will feature changes for San Antonio’s boxing star Mario Barrios.
On Tuesday, Premier Boxing Champions made it official that Barrios will once again headline a pay-per-view event.
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Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) will face Keith Thurman (29-1, 22 KOs) on Saturday, February 5 in Las Vegas, Nevada in a 12-round welterweight bout. “El Azteca,” who has been contemplating moving up in weight for several years, has finally decided to make the move and will fight Thurman at 147 pounds in the PPV main event. Tickets are already on sale for the fights at the Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
Thurman, the former unified welterweight world champion, is fighting for the first time since July 2019 when he lost by split decision to Manny Pacquiao. Barrios is also coming off his only loss of his professional career when he lost to Gervonta Davis earlier this summer.
Back in the ring February 5th in Vegas, tickets on sale now! 😤🔥 #TeamBarrios #ElAzteca #ThurmanBarrios #FoxPPV pic.twitter.com/wd8i15P0jk
— Mario (@Boxer_Barrios) December 22, 2021
Leading up to the main event will be Leo Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) facing Keenan Carbajal (23-2-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-round super featherweight match. Santa Cruz is coming off his second career loss when he was knocked out by Gervonta Davis in the Alamodome on Halloween night 2020. Carbajal was 3-0 in 2021 and hasn’t lost since 2015.
Also on the card will be Abel Ramos (27-4-2, 21 KOs) fighting Josesito Lopez (38-8, 21 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight bout. Lopez, who is from Riverside, California, lost to Keith Thurman in 2019 by majority decision for the WBA Super World Welterweight title.
INSIDE THE RING: @Boxer_Barrios will face @keithfthurmanjr in Las Vegas next year! Read more about fight night here: https://t.co/bNxERF7HTp#KSATsports #boxing #boxeo #TeamBarrios #ElAzteca #ThurmanBarrios pic.twitter.com/mGZYVOJSSd
— KSAT 12 Sports (@InstantReplaySA) December 24, 2021
The price for the PPV event has not been announced yet. Thurman and Barrios will meet face-to-face on Wednesday, December 29 in a virtual press conference to start promoting the fight.
In 2022, I will remind the world of boxing that Keith Thurman is a fighter not to forget. I'm back and I'm ready to fight! #OneTime #ThurmanBarrios pic.twitter.com/XRz1mt1Npm
— Keith Thurman Jr. (@keithfthurmanjr) December 22, 2021
Daniel P. Villanueva has worked with KSAT 12 for over 18 years and is an award-winning producer. To submit story ideas, email dvillanueva@ksat.com