Mario Barrios vs Fabian Maidana Prediction: First game of year for both fighters

Mario Barrios will have his first game of the year, and it will be against Fabian Maidana on Sunday. This Welterweight Men's title matchup will be a 12-round boxing main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. By 3 a.m., fans can undoubtedly catch up with all activities via streaming on Box REC.

Mario Barrios has a perfect professional record of 28 wins, no draws, and 2 losses, of which 15 were knockout victories. He won his first professional boxing title in March 2015 against Justin Lopez. He faced five boxers in 2015: Justin Lopez, Jose Del Valle-Rivera, Jose Arturo Esquivel, Jose Cen Torres, Eduardo Rivera, and Manuel Vides, all of whom he defeated by knockout. After a unanimous decision win, he went further in 2016 to face Edgar Gabejan, who he defeated through a unanimous decision, and Claudio Rosendo, who he defeated through a technical knockout in a bid to retain his title. In 2017 and 2018, he competed in the promotion championships, winning all five fights through unanimous decisions. He fought four times in 2019 and 2020, winning three through knockouts. In 2021, things turned upside down when he lost to Gervonta Davis for the WBA regular super lightweight title by knockout. The same thing happened in 2022 when he lost to Keith Thurman by a unanimous decision in the welterweight title. One year later, he faced Jovanie Santiago in a welterweight boxing bout, ending in a knockout. Member 2023, he defeated Yordenis Ugas for the Interim WBC World Welterweight title through a unanimous decision. Eight months later, he sets out to fight Fabian Mandana.

Fabian Maidana is the oldest in this contest, as he is 31 years old compared to his opponent, who is 28. Throughout his professional career, he has won 22 games out of 24, 14 of which were knockouts, but at present, his last four games have been unbeaten, three of which were knockouts. In a co-main event in the WBC Latino Welterweight Title, he last fought against Israel Lopez via a unanimous decision on November 29, 2023. He won unanimously, ending the bout in the tenth round. John Ramirez fights Jose Leon Suarez in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while On September 16, 2023, Maidana went for the vacant WBC Latino Welterweight Title against Jordan Rodriguez, winning via a straight knockout. Maidana has recorded other wins against top fighters in the style of early-round wins. Some were against Ramses Agaton, David Nelson, Jared Teer and Philip Soriano, all in round 1, and Christian Nestor Romero, Cory Vom Baur, and Jordan Rodriguez in round 2.

This could be the fight that steals the night; both guys are fighting with a lot at stake here, mainly the interim belt. Surely, the winner of this fight will have an opportunity to fight for the belt next. I see this as a 50/50 fight. Maidana will encounter a higher skill set in Barrios than in the controversial win over his last opponent. Barrios is highly skilled and knows how to throw punches. Barrios should not have issues dealing with all that Maidana throws at him. Maidana will undoubtedly have the upper hand in the early rounds of the fight, but as it progresses, Barrios will gather the necessary momentum to secure a victory. This match will be one whose victory method will be by decision.