Tyson vs. Paul Undercard Drama: Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos Clash to a Draw

Tyson vs. Paul Undercard Drama: Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos Clash to a Draw

Sometimes it feels like fans of the sport need a reminder that fights aren’t won and lost on pre-fight betting lines and sometimes it comes down to which fighter is able to dig deepest when things aren’t going their way.

Even as nearly a -900 favourite, Mario Barrios had to dig deep just to manage a split draw against Abel Ramos and retain his WBC welterweight championship on the Netflix stream for Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul.

Barrios caught a big right hand in round one that buckled Ramos’ legs, almost sending him down. There wasn’t an “almost” second round as another Barrios right hand felled Ramos to the canvas.

As the rounds ticked by, it seemed Barrios was well in control and set to retain his world title. Then, Ramos’ own right hand caught up to the champion. In Round 6, Ramos connected clean with a right and dropped Barrios.

While Barrios was able to beat the count, Ramos’ right hand continued to sneak through and around Barrios’ guard and turned the contest into a real fight and test of wills.

By the final round of fighting both combatants were bleeding while striking — and being struck on — with frequency. Defense appeared to have exited the building, but on a stage the size of the Tyson vs. Paul undercard, being entertaining may pay more long-term dividends than merely getting your hand raised.

Barrios was eventually able to weather the worst of the storm, although he continued to eat punches, and gradually took back a certain level of control, but neither man made it without both being badly cut.

After 12 grueling rounds of action, the official scorecards read 114-112 Ramos, 116-110 for Barrios and 113-113 even for a split draw.

The only logical move for both fighters will be a rematch, but Ramos did not come into the ring as the de facto WBC No. 1 challenger so the opportunity may not arise again for the challenger.

Key Moments and Highlights from the Tyson-Paul Undercard

“I knew it was a close fight,” Barrios said. “I knew Abel was going to come for everything.. I was finding success in the early rounds but he was able to make an adjustment and it was a war.

Barrios said the knockdown in the sixth round didn’t affect him late but admitted he was caught by something he didn’t see and it did affect him in the moment.

“I was saying in all the interviews, I prepared myself for a hard 12 rounds,” Barrios said. “That’s what I got.”

Ramos was gracious in defeat following the draw and did not have any cause to complain about the ending.

“It was a great fight for the fans,” Ramos said. “When you get two Mexican fighters like us, you’re going to get great action, guaranteed.”

                                                  Key Moments and Highlights from the Tyson-Paul Undercard

The fight began with Barrios setting up an excellent jab and dictating the early rounds with superb counter-punching. Ramos, though, reversed the script in the middle round, applying some serious brute force, then putting together some massive punches that made Barrios work a lot on defense.

The fight then took a very blood-soaked turn in the later rounds with both fighters getting cuts through a series of huge exchanges. Despite the apparent exhaustion and visible damage, neither fighter backed off and kept the crowd at the edge of their seats.

In the main event, it was a 27-year-old Jake Paul boxed circles around the 58-year-old Mike Tyson and appeared to carry him to the finish line instead of going for the finish.

What’s Next for Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos After the Draw?

It’s a fight, many will say, against Mario Barrios, and he’ll have his chance to try to avenge his loss in a rematch. Even in defeat, Barrios showed some solid athletic skills in base, and heart.

He’ll be prepared to take on a priority-level opponent like Ramos again after having those moments that pass his test to be inside the lime light. Of course, battered and beaten, Ramos would have unfinished business with Barrios.

                                                                   What’s Next for Mario Barrios and Abel Ramos After the Draw?

Or perhaps he decides to go after someone ranked just ahead of him to push his way up the rankings.

Abel Ramos, proven potent with determination, has options, too.

While there was plenty of intrigue into what Tyson would look like at this advanced age against a relative novice in comparison, the fight was never really close to delivering on fan expectations.

That was due in part to the bigger gloves and shorter rounds. Paul collected a unanimous decision on all three scorecards by a wide margin.