Keith Thurman won a unanimous decision against Mario Barrios on Saturday night at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. The fight was broadcast live on pay-per-view. Thurman won 117-111, 118-110, and 118-110 from the judges, bouncing back after his first professional loss against Manny Pacquiao in July 2019.
Thurman (30-1, 22 KOs) boxed well and consistently, cutting and outpointing Mario Barrios inside Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. He was unanimously favored by the three judges in the Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view main bout.
“It felt good. I still felt a little ring rust in there but it was amazing,” Thurman said. “I had a great opponent and he learned from his last outing and [so did I]. I’m just so grateful to everybody that got me to this position and I’m looking forward to a big year. 2022, baby!”
Keith Thurman vs Mario Barrios Scores:
- 117-111
- 118-110
- 118-110
Thurman was the faster and bigger puncher, but it was the evident gap in experience and boxing IQ that allowed him to lay traps and get his way. Despite being obviously injured by a body shot in Round 8 and even spitting out his own mouthpiece to breathe easier, Thurman avoided the kind of meltdown he teased three years ago in a narrow win over Josesito Lopez.
“It was kind of the fight I was expecting,” Barrios said. “He was the one who had to come here and hold up to expectations. I think you all saw, once again, that I can appear with the great fighters. Me and my team, we are happy with the outcome.
“We knew he would be on his bike a lot, especially if I started to hurt him. I believe that I did several times. Overall, I felt stronger. There was nothing in there that really had hurt me to where I couldn’t continue. I didn’t get the win but I was happy with the outcome to give the fans a great fight.”
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