Mario Barrios vs Abel Ramos Predictions: The big stage beckons for ‘El Azteca’

Mario Barrios defends his WBC welterweight championship against Abel Ramos this Friday, November 15. The bout takes place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul. Netflix make their first move into the boxing market, broadcasting the event live to all customers.

Here are my Barrios vs Ramos predictions ahead of this world title affair.

Two-weight world champion Barrios is well-known to boxing audiences, but this fight will put him in front of more eyeballs than ever. With the main event dominating the mainstream discourse, this is a key chance for fighters like Barrios, along with fellow undercard stars like Bruce Carrington and Shadasia Green, to make real in-roads. 

The worldwide audience counts for little if you lose, and Barrios will know he has to be at his best. ‘El Azteca’ is characterised by his willingness to meet any challenge. The fact his only two losses came against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Keith Thurman is indicative of his penchant to take on all comers.

That’s not to say Barrios always loses against the best. The 29-year-old inflicted the first loss upon Olympian Batyr Akhmedov. Barrios also holds a win over former WBA champion Yordenis Ugas, the man who ended the professional career of Manny Pacquiao. Last time out, the Texan saw off the challenge of Fabian ‘TNT’ Maidana.

Ramos is probably a sideways step at best from that win. The 28-6-2 challenger is no stranger to world title fights. He lost a WBA championship challenge to Ugas by split decision back in 2020. 

A gritty performance on that occasion earned Ramos plaudits, but he wasn’t able to capitalise on the momentum. After stopping a washed-up Omar Figueroa Jr. in six rounds, Ramos lost his next two fights. Luke Santamaria and Cody Crowley got the best of him on points, though admittedly the latter outing was close. 

Ramos is coming off a win, stopping Juan Roman Guzman in the fifth of an eight-rounder. But he is hardly in the sort of form that is becoming of a world title challenger. The fact he has got this chance is a real bolt from the blue. Historically, Ramos has proved able to make a big fight a close affair. What he has never done is won one.

Make no mistake, this is a huge fight for both men. As much of a circus as Tyson vs Paul may be, it guarantees a huge audience. Don’t forget, Paul himself built his own boxing profile off an impactful performance on the undercard of Tyson’s 2020 exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. An impressive display for either of these men could power the next stage of their career.

Barrios looks the most likely to impress. He is a solid world champion who deserves his belt. Welterweight is a wide-open division and the 29-year-old will be conscious of that. A big display on this mega-card will put him at the front of the queue for some huge match-ups. On a night ruled by nonsense, Barrios could join Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor in providing some boxing quality to proceedings.

Mario Barrios vs Abel Ramos Fight Odds

Barrios is a wide 1/25 favourite in this one. Ramos is your underdog at 10/1 while the draw is priced at 22/1.

Mario Barrios vs Abel Ramos Full Card

Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano

Mario Barrios vs. Abel Ramos 

Neeraj Goyat vs. Whindersson Nunes

Shadasia Green vs Melinda Watpool

Lucas Bahdi vs. Armando Casamonica

Bruce Carrington vs Dana Coolwell

Mario Barrios vs Abel Ramos Prediction

Former world champion Regis Prograis is the only man to stop Ramos. But 18 knockouts in 29 wins shows Barrios has the power to do it. His last two wins have come by decision but they were against better boxers than Ramos.

I see Ramos at about the level of Jovanie Santiago, who Barrios took out in eight rounds last year. That’s why I’m picking the champion to retain his title via knockout at 6/4.

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