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WBA “regular” junior welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios believes his career-defining moment has finally arrived, as he’s scheduled to defend his title against unbeaten star Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Their fight will headline a Showtime pay-per-view card on Saturday, June 26, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
Davis captured titles at super featherweight and lightweight, but Barrios is certainly his biggest and most dangerous opponent when considering the weight difference and the size disparity.
Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs), who has a 9-0 record with eight knockouts at 140-pounds, holds a six-inch height advantage in the bout.
He’s knocked out almost every opponent at the weight – except Batyr Akhmedov, who fights on the June 26 undercard against former world champion Argenis Mendez.
Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) is coming back from his October win over Leo Santa Cruz, who was brutally knocked out in that contest.
Barrios appeared on the pay-per-view undercard of that event, when he knocked out Ryan Karl in the sixth round.
Motivated by the immediate role as the big underdog, Barrios wants to produce a superstar making performance in the fight.
“Fighting on Showtime PPV is a dream come true and an opportunity that I’m going to take full advantage of,” said Barrios.
“Gervonta Davis is a pound-for-pound champion and it’s going to be an honor sharing the ring with him. This fight is my shining moment and the pinnacle of the boxing world, on the biggest stage possible. Boxing fans around the globe will be watching this fight and I’m coming to shock the world. To all my Mexican fans, I’m going to bring this historic victory home for La Raza.”