Source: Goossen-Barrios Partnership Reopens MoleGate Wound For García
- Matthew Brown
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
12/15/2025
Ryan Garcia is reportedly fuming over the newly formed partnership between Hall of Fame trainer Joe Goossen and his February 21 opponent, Mario Barrios. The development that has reopened one of the most contentious chapters of Garcia’s career: the so-called “MoleGate.”
According to sources close to the situation, Garcia’s frustration is rooted in his preparation for the April 2023 super fight against Gervonta “Tank” Davis. Garcia has long maintained that a mole existed within his training camp during that period, and he has consistently pointed the finger squarely at Goossen, who was training him at the time.
Garcia has alleged that he suffered a rib injury during a sparring session with Erdenebat Tsendbaatar, and that sensitive information about the injury was relayed to Davis’ camp prior to the fight. In Garcia’s estimation, Davis exploited that knowledge, relentlessly attacking Garcia’s body and ultimately stopping him with a vicious body shot in their memorable 2023 showdown.
In the aftermath of the loss, Garcia abruptly severed ties with Goossen. Goossen, for his part, vehemently denied the accusations, even publicly questioning whether a mole ever existed in Garcia’s camp at all.
The controversy was reignited following the announcement that Goossen would be working with Barrios. Shortly thereafter, Brittany Goossen-Brown,Goossen’s niece and the daughter of TGB Promotions president Tom Brown, posted a tweet reading “Happy Mole Day,” accompanied by a wink emoji. The timing and tone of the post immediately raised eyebrows.
To Garcia and his supporters, the tweet could be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek admission of guilt regarding the nearly two-year-old MoleGate saga, unless, of course, Goossen-Brown is suddenly celebrating a chemistry-themed holiday, which she is not. Notably, Goossen-Brown had previously been accused by some of being the mastermind behind the alleged leak. Davis, it should be noted, is a PBC and TGB-affiliated fighter.
Publicly, Garcia has attempted to project confidence, responding to the Goossen-Barrios pairing by declaring, “I’m about to cook them crazy.” Privately, however, those close to Garcia say the development has deeply upset him, reopening old wounds that apparently had never fully healed.
As Garcia prepares to face Barrios on February 21, one has to wonder what effect this resurfaced controversy will have on him heading into the bout. Will it fuel Garcia’s fire and sharpen his focus? Or will the lingering bitterness of MoleGate prove to be an unwanted distraction at the worst possible time?
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