Overview
- The WBC Board of Governors voted to lift Garcia’s 2024 expulsion, with president Mauricio Sulaiman announcing the decision.
- Garcia is again eligible to fight for the organization’s belts and publicly thanked the WBC for the reinstatement.
- Talks for a Mario Barrios welterweight title bout in early 2026 have been reported, with Golden Boy and PBC exchanging contracts, though no deal is finalized.
- Garcia’s ban followed racist and anti-Muslim social-media posts last year, alongside a separate NYSAC suspension and a no contest after an ostarine finding in the Haney fight.
- Garcia last fought in May with a loss to Rolando Romero, while Barrios is coming off a majority draw with Manny Pacquiao, and some analysts question the matchup’s merit.