“I WON’T WORK WITH HIM AGAIN!” Joe Goossen BLASTS Mario Barrios After Brutal Defeat to Ryan Garcia!
Las Vegas, Nevada – February 23, 2026 – Just minutes after referee Kenny Bayless officially stopped the fight in round 9 because Mario Barrios could not continue, legendary coach Joe Goossen entered the backstage area and made a statement that stunned the entire boxing community: he would never work with Barrios again.
The angry and disappointed words of Goossen – who once led Barrios to the WBA welterweight championship – quickly spread like wildfire, turning a knockout loss into the biggest dramatic explosion of boxing night yesterday at T-Mobile Arena.
The match between Mario Barrios (29-2, 19 KOs) and Ryan Garcia (25-1, 20 KOs) is expected to be a balanced fight between experience and speed. Barrios entered the ring as the WBA welterweight champion, and Garcia needed a big victory to regain his reputation after a series of personal scandals and defeat against Devin Haney. But the reality was completely different: Garcia dominated from the start with his hand speed and sharp left hooks.
In round 9, Garcia threw a powerful left hook to Barrios’ temple, causing him to fall. Barrios tried to stand up at count 8 but his legs were shaking and his eyes were blurry. The referee immediately stopped the fight – TKO 9 for Ryan Garcia.
As soon as the final bell rang, Joe Goossen – head coach of Barrios for the past 7 years – rushed into the middle of the ring. In a live interview with Jim Gray (Showtime Boxing), Goossen could not contain his emotions:
“I told him before the fight: ‘Mario, if you don’t listen to me, if you keep changing tactics, you will lose.’ He didn’t listen. He wanted to fight his way, wanted to ‘be a hero’. What was the result? He was knocked out and now I’m done with him. I won’t work with Mario Barrios again. Never again. I gave him everything – strategy, time, experience. But he thinks he knows better. I. Okay.
Now take care of yourself.”
This statement is not just an ordinary coach-fighter farewell. It was a blow to the reputation of Barrios – who has always been praised for his humility, professionalism and good relationship with the team. Goossen, 73 years old, is one of the most respected coaches in American boxing. He led Diego Corrales to the championship, helped Shane Mosley revive his career, and turned Mario Barrios from a young talent into a world champion.
The fact that he publicly “abandoned” Barrios right on the ring was unprecedented.
The deeper context: a long-simmering conflict
According to sources from the backstage team and people close to both sides, the conflict between Goossen and Barrios has been simmering since the win over Brandon Figueroa in 2024 – a match that Barrios won very closely thanks to the tight defensive strategy built by Goossen. But since then, Barrios began to arbitrarily change his tactics in training sessions: using jabs less, increasing close attacks, wanting to “fight more beautifully” to attract viewers.
Goossen repeatedly warned that this would make him vulnerable to knockouts against fast opponents like Garcia.
“Joe said clearly: ‘Don’t try to fight pretty, fight smart.’ But Mario wants to be a star, wants a highlight reel on Instagram. He thinks he can keep the belt and become a PPV blockbuster. Joe doesn’t agree. And tonight he paid the price,” a source close to the Barrios team shared with BoxingScene right after the match.
After the match, Barrios was taken to the locker room for a medical examination. He refused an in-depth interview and only spoke briefly to the media:“I’m sorry. I tried my best. I respect Joe, but there are times when we don’t agree. I’ll think about the future.”However, family sources said Barrios is considering retiring completely, even though he is only 30 years old and still holds the WBA belt.
Reaction from the boxing community
News about Goossen “abandoning” Barrios spread extremely quickly. Within 30 minutes, the hashtags #GoossenDropsBarrios and #MarioRetires trended number 1 on X. The reactions from the boxing world were multi-dimensional:
Ryan Garcia (immediately after winning): “I respect Mario. He fought until the end. Joe is a legendary coach – his decisions are very heavy. Wish Mario peace.” Terence Crawford: “Joe Goossen never talks nonsense. If he says he won’t work anymore, Mario has lost a great teacher. Mario needs to think again.” Errol Spence Jr.: “What a pity. Mario is a warrior.
But that’s what boxing is like – sometimes you have to choose between the coach and yourself.” Devin Haney: “I fought Garcia and know his strength. Mario tried his best. Joe has the right to say that – he has seen too many fighters destroy themselves.”
The fan community is fiercely divided: one side defends Barrios because “he gave his all”, the other side criticizes him for “not listening to the coach” and “being arrogant after winning the championship”. Many people also relate to the fact that Barrios was criticized for his too passive defensive style – something Goossen himself built to help him win big matches.
The legacy and future of Mario Barrios
Mario Barrios (30-2, 19 KO) turned professional in 2013, won the WBC super featherweight title in 2019 against Ryan Karl, then moved to welterweight and won the WBA title in 2021 after defeating Miguel Roman. He has overcome tough opponents like Batyr Akhmedov and Brandon Figueroa. Although not the biggest star in the welterweight division, Barrios is always respected for his professionalism, fair-play spirit and humble attitude.
The decision to retire (or at least part ways with Goossen) at the age of 30 – while still world champion – was a huge shock. If Barrios truly retires, boxing will lose one of the cleanest and most reliable punchers in the welterweight division. If he continues, finding a new coach will be a big challenge, especially when Joe Goossen’s shadow is still too big.
Joe Goossen, despite his anger, still left one last sentence in the post-match press conference:“I don’t hate Mario. I’m just disappointed. I spent 7 years helping him become champion. If he wants to continue, find someone else. As for me, I quit with him from tonight.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Garcia – the winner – had a perfect night: victory, title, and an old opponent who announced his retirement shortly after losing to him. Boxing, as always, is never short of drama – and tonight, the drama reached its peak.
Mario Barrios’s passing – possibly forever – leaves behind a big question: will he regret not listening to the teacher who brought him to the top? Or is this the way he chose to end a proud career?
The boxing community is waiting for an answer.