Who prevails when a fighter who never shies away from taking hard fights clashes with someone who is trying to carve out a name for himself? Who will it be? Will it be Mario Barrios, whom every top fighter at 147 wants to fight, or will it be Fabian Maidana, who is trying to shed his older brother’s legacy?

Barrios defends his WBC interim welterweight title against Maidana on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight acts as a supporting act to the Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Munguia main card. However, the fight for the top spot in the 147-pound division is interesting, as Terence Crawford is moving up and the victor might get to sit on the WBC throne next. But how do they stack up before their high-stakes showdown?

Mario Barrios vs. Fabian Andres Maidana: tale of the tap

At 6’0″ (183cm) and with a reach of 70″ (178 cm), the dimensions of Barrios are larger than those of Maidana, who stands tall at 5’9″ (175 cm) but carries a reach advantage at 72″ (183 cm). Moreover, Barrios, at 28, is younger than the challenger, at 31. However, it’s Barrios, who has more fights under his belt and boasts an impressive record of 28-2 with 18 KOs.

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While his KO ratio of 64% doesn’t turn heads, he has been clinical with his performances. Meanwhile, Maidana has also proved his credentials with his 22-2 record with 16 KOs. In addition, his KO ratio of 72% hints at his fan-friendly style and his eagerness to finish the fight instead of tagging around. Interestingly, when both boxers stood on the scales last, they clocked at 147 lbs (66.82 kg). But how do these stats translate into their performance?

Recent form, momentum, and style matchup

Maidana has found it hard to get out of his elder brother, Marcos Maidana‘s shadow. Despite his best efforts, he almost jeopardized his career with two losses against Jaider Parra and a relatively unknown boxer, Francisco Mercado. But the Argentine has bounced back strongly, as he is on a four-win streak. The doubters have wondered how stacked his resume is, as he hasn’t fought a notable fighter since his match against Andrey Klimov in 2018.

On the other hand, Barrios had a steep learning curve when he readily accepted successive fights against Keith Thurman and Gervonta Davis. He would implement the lessons he learned when he fought Yordenis Ugas, dropping him twice and crushing him to a dominating victory. Even against ‘Tank’ he had many moments, but his inexperience got the hold of him. He also found it hard to cope with Davis’ power. He might have to worry about the same against Maidana as well if the Argentinian brings his full power.

The American boxer’s power, smooth switching, and overall skills make him a fan favorite. But will these weapons be enough for Barrios to hold on to his interim WBC welterweight title?

Prediction: Who wins it?

When Barrios fought Ugas, his jab helped him win the fight. He pierced through Ugas’ defenses and troubled him with his precise tagging. ‘El Azteca’ has the size, speed, power, and boxing acumen to excel against any opponent, and his big heart also makes him an overwhelming favorite. He seems set to dislodge ‘Bud’ as the WBC champion in the 147-pound division and set himself on a collision course with the division’s top dog at the moment, the IBF champion, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

However, the San Antonio native has an uphill task in Maidana, who has already disclosed his game plan. To throw a lot of punches. He will look to rely on volume punching, which might throw Barrios off. Given his recent resurgence, if he executes his game plan well, he might find himself a step away from the champion’s title. Will that happen? It seems unlikely when their skill sets and resumes are put in parallel. We have the interim champion defending his title and inching one step closer to the champion’s crown.

What do you make of this coming fight between Mario Barrios and Fabian Andres Maidana? Who do you think will get his hand raised? Let us know in the comments below.