By: Sean Crose
WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios made the first defense of his title Friday night against Abel Ramos on the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul undercard. The fight, which was scheduled for twelve, went down at AT&T stadium outside Dallas and was broadcast live on Netflix.
The 29-2 Barrios rattled the 28-6-2 Ramos early on in the first. Ramos, however, was able to compose himself. The second saw Barrios putting his shots together effectively. By the end of the round, Ramos had gotten dropped by a picture perfect right. Ramos was able to beat the count, but he was getting outclassed.
With that being said, Ramos had once again regained his composer by the third. He didn’t turn the tide, but he was still in the game. Things remained tight in the fifth, though it was Barrios who had the stronger skill set. Then, stunningly, Ramos sent Barrios to the mat in the sixth. Barrios got up, but Ramos went in for the kill. Barrios survived the round – but was truly getting tuned up.
Ramos continued to look sharp in the seventh. Ramos tagged Barrios hard again at the end of the eighth…and went on to aggressively pursue his man in the ninth. Barrios went on to land well in the tenth…yet Ramos landed well at times himself. The penultimate round was a battle of attrition, with each man banging away at the other. The twelfth and final round was exciting – and very close, though a gutsy Barrios may have edged it. Each man’s face was a mess at the sound of the final bell.
When all was said and done, the fight was ruled a split draw.