The fire has reignited between Ryan Garcia and Joe Goossen.

Garcia and Goossen trained together for three fights before they parted ways following Garcia’s seventh-round knockout loss to Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2023. Now, they’ll be in opposing corners when Garcia faces WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios – who is coached by Goossen – in the main event of “The Ring: High Stakes” show Feb. 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on DAZN.

Garcia wasn’t bashful about his disdain for Goossen as the two exchanged words in the early stages of the opening press conference Thursday in Los Angeles. He called Goossen a traitor and gave him a shirt that said, “I'm a traitor,” which Goossen half-heartedly threw right back to him.

“How could you, Joe?“ Garcia said to Goossen. “That’s messed up. I can’t believe you’re doing this to me. That’s insane. You broke my heart.”

“This dude really did this to me,” Garcia later added. “It hurt me when he didn’t show up after my loss to Tank. That was a pretty big defeat in my heart, and I didn’t see him after the fight. He had whatever going on, but he didn’t show up. … I’m a little disappointed in Joe’s decision to go against me, but that fires me up.”

Garcia added that Goossen may have been the reason information leaked from his camp ahead of his loss to Davis.

For Goossen, it isn’t the first time he has coached against a former fighter of his. He worked the corner of Joel Casamayor in his stoppage win over Diego Corrales in 2003, then was in Corrales’ corner when he defeated Casamayor in their second fight in 2004.

Goossen, puzzled by Garcia’s comments, said the friction would play no role on Feb. 21. And he downplayed the impact his experience with Garcia will have on how he prepares Barrios.

“My incentive is always the same, as it is every fight, for my fighter to win,” Goossen said. “That's it. I don't have the resentment. Wherever this resentment is coming from, I don't really know. The bottom line is I’ve got nothing against any fighter I’ve ever gone against. I’m just for my fighter. That’s all, and that’s the way it is.

"I don't go to bed at night thinking about revenge or anything of that sort. I just go to bed at night thinking about, ‘What can I do to better my guy that I'm training to win?’”

Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) will be making the third defense of his belt. In his last defense, he fought to a controversial majority draw against eight-division champion and 2025 International Boxing Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao on July 19. In his other title defense, the San Antonio native fought to a split draw against Abel Ramos.

Barrios, 30, won the interim WBC welterweight belt by a one-sided unanimous decision over Yordenis Ugas in 2023, and he defended it once with a unanimous decision win over Fabian Maidana in 2024, after which he was elevated to full champion.

Barrios said appointing Goossen as his next trainer has nothing to do with him previously being Garcia’s trainer. Barrios had been trained by Bob Santos, who was the 2022 Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year.

“The fact that he trained Ryan Garcia had nothing to do with it," Barrios said. "The move to go with Joe, it was going to happen, whether this fight happened or not. Me and my team, we just felt that I needed a change to get this last stretch with my career. That was the reason for the move with Joe.

"We have been very familiar with him and his style and everything he has accomplished with his fighters since before I was born. Very happy to be out here with Joe. We've been having a hell of a camp, and we're just looking forward to the 21st.”

Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) will be in just his second fight as a welterweight. In his lone bout at 147 pounds, he lost an upset decision to WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero on May 2 at Times Square in New York.

Garcia promised a better showing against Barrios, noting he’s far more invested in this fight compared to how he felt against Romero.

“I gotta go grab that title,” Garcia said. “I’m hungry, I’m excited, and I’m ready to put on a show. For me, it’s all a show. I want to put on the best show possible, and you guys are going to get a great fight.

"This guy isn’t going to lay down, and I've got to be more careful with him. If I’m sleeping, he’ll beat my ass. Right now, I’m super locked in and you’re going to see the best version of myself that you’ve ever seen.”

Garcia, 27, will be trained by his father, Henry Garcia, for this fight. Garcia was trained by his father in his first 16 fights before he joined forces with Eddy Reynoso, the longtime trainer of Canelo Alvarez, in 2018. Derrick James, was Garcia's chief second for his last three fights.

“I’m honored,“ the elder Garcia said. “I feel proud. I know my son more than anyone in this room, including the past coaches, which I do respect. I have to because they go through sacrifices, but I know my son, and come February 21st, he’s going to be the Ryan that I know and love.”