Tim Bradley became a world champion in two weight classes during his career in the ring, but now the 42-year-old Californian has told another two-weight winner to quit the sport, believing his best days are behind him.
Bradley held the WBC and WBO super lightweight world titles and the WBO welterweight crown, defeating Junior Witter, Kendall Holt and Manny Pacquiao to win each of those belts.
Meanwhile, Mario Barrios held the WBA (regular) super-lightweight title by defeating Botirzhon Akhmedov, and in June 2024 he was promoted to WBC welterweight world champion.
Prior to his fight with Ryan Garcia on Saturday night, Barrios had made impressive two title defenses but had not won a world title contest since 2020, retaining the 147-pound belt after draws with Abel Ramos and Pacquiao.
Before the fight, Bradley expected Garcia to be an “uncomplicated” fight stylistically for Barrios.
“Mario Barrios, if you don’t do it, man, damn it. This should be uncomplicated, uncomplicated for you.
“[Joe] Goossen, if you don’t do this, you worked with this man, Ryan Garcia, you worked side by side with him for several fights. If you don’t do that with Mario Barrios, you’ll be a miserable coach too.”
“Ryan Garcia is a fraudulent trash. Butter Doo-doo. Yes, Ryan, you trash. You don’t have a right hand, take your left hand and that’s it.”
“All you need is someone tough, someone astute. Take that left hand out of your ass and you’re done, brother. Put your ass in that scary [Philly] shell, where do you turn? You’re done, my boy. You have no boxing skills, no real skills.
However, after Garcia scored a knockdown and dictated the entire contest apply for the WBC welterweight belt, Bradley has now stated that Barrios should retire from boxingcalling the “El Azteca” performance “terrible”.
“Barrios stayed in the mid-range the whole damn fight, man, when you go outside, operate that range and operate those angles, man. [You will] don’t get hit by this shit.
“That was a terrible performance by Mario Barrios, man. You need to hang them, brother. Say goodbye! Yes, you need to go, man. Really, brother, your last two performances were doo-doo, straight to the butter.”
Garcia called for a fight with super lightweight star Shakur Stevenson after the victory, but the Newark southpaw maintains that any potential fight must take place at the 144-pound catchweight.