Mario Barrios still has the WBC welterweight title, but keeping it didn’t come easy thanks to Abel Ramos.

Mario Barrios vs Abel RamosPhoto by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix © 2024

Scott Christ is the managing editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2006.

Mario Barrios retained his WBC welterweight title in a rugged fight with veteran Abel Ramos, going to a split draw in a bout where both fighters were knocked down.

Barrios won a card on a 116-110 score, the underdog Ramos won one 114-112, and the third judge had it even, 113-113.

Ramos went down in the second round and could have been called down when his glove may have touched the canvas in the first round, but stormed back starting with a sixth round knockdown. For five rounds, the bout appeared to be all Barrios (29-2-1, 18 KO), but Ramos (28-6-3, 22 KO) had a very strong outing from there, gritting his way back into the fight and giving himself an argument in the end.

But Barrios, 29, showed his own determination, and the impact and punishment of the bout was evident on both fighters’ faces when all was said and done.

“He was as tough as I thought. I prepared myself for a hard 12 rounds, and that’s exactly what I got today,” Barrios said. Asked if he wanted to do a rematch right away, Barrios said he would speak with his team after some time off.

“He came out strong, you can tell he’s strong,” the 33-year-old Ramos said, as the challenger said he was not surprised by the draw result, and refused to engage in any trash talk.