Ryan Garcia Attracts WBC Self-discipline Weeks After Reinstatement

The actual weight was never the issue. When the footage finally arrived, it showed Garcia tipped the scales at 154.2 pounds, which is safely under the 5% allowance for the 147-pound limit. Barrios actually came in lighter at 153 pounds. The violation was purely administrative because Garcia missed the submission window.

Sulaiman moved to escalate the situation almost instantly, warning Garcia’s team that a missing video would trigger a public statement and a call to the athletic commission. Garcia complied immediately to avoid further trouble beyond the financial hit.

This error happens at a sensitive time for the challenger. The WBC only recently welcomed Garcia back after expelling him in July 2024 for racial slurs used on social media. The organization moved him directly into the mandatory spot for Barrios, but the spotlight on his professionalism is brighter than ever. All eyes are on his weight for good reason, as he famously missed the limit for his fight against Devin Haney last year before a positive drug test led to a lengthy suspension.

Beyond the scales, there is a massive amount of drama heading into Las Vegas. Barrios is now trained by Joe Goossen, the same man who stood in Garcia’s corner for some of his biggest career moments. Garcia has already labeled his former coach a traitor, adding a personal grudge to a fight where Barrios is looking to prove he belongs at the top of the division.

Everything now hinges on how Garcia handles the final stretch, including one more mandatory weight check scheduled just seven days before the opening bell. Because the WBC has already shown it won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on its procedural rules, his compliance will remain under a heavy microscope throughout fight week. Keeping this title opportunity on track depends entirely on his ability to follow those remaining requirements before he finally steps into the ring against Barrios on February 21.