Rey Vargas vs O’Shaquie Foster: Can Foster Pull off an Upset and Win in San Antonio?

The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, provides the setting for the highlight of this week’s professional boxing schedule. Tom Brown and his TGB promotions team are back in quick succession with their second championship show. The event is already a sell-out, but you don’t need to miss the best the night has to offer. Catch the most interesting bouts on the schedule, including the main event, Rey Vargas v O’Shaquie Foster. The WBC super featherweight world title is on the line here, but which warrior will prevail?

Vargas is the current champion and betting favorite to retain his belt with another impressive win. Traders working at the leading sportsbooks in the United States come down hard to support the champion, who boasts an impressive unbeaten run and a better than 60% knockout average. It’s easy to see why bookies and backers are in a rush to support the Mexican, but he’s experienced enough to know the result isn’t a foregone conclusion. 

If anyone in Team Vargas believes the title holder need only turn up to get the job done, they could be in for a nasty surprise. That’s because the man standing in the opposite corner of the ring before the first bell represents a real danger. Foster arrives on the back of a stunning nine-fight winning streak and lands in town confident he has what it takes to make it ten on the bounce before returning to Houston as the world's new champion.

Fight Winner Betting Odds

Can Foster pull off an upset and win in San Antonio? You bet he can. But will he pull off an upset win? That’s the question we answer in our Vargas v Foster big fight preview.

Thanks to Caesars Sportsbook, you can make predictions and place bets on the winner of Vargas v Foster or any of this weekend’s top bouts. This online betting giant provides us with the odds found in the above table, and they are accepting wagers now. As you can see, Vargas is the red-hot betting favorite to add another win to his impressive tally, but the app isn’t in a rush to write off the chances of Foster. 

The betting tells us to expect a close contest and an example of just how close can be found in the betting on the draw. In most high-profile bouts, the draw is anything between +1600 to +2500, but in the betting, for this fight, we have the draw at a surprisingly short +1400. The reluctance of traders to come down hard on one side and dismiss the others proves they aren’t sure what to expect on Saturday. That will be music to the ears of professional and profitable bettors. Keep reading for tips on where you can find the betting value ahead of this world title fight.

Rey Vargas vs O’Shaquie Foster Pick

Vargas is the pre-fight betting favorite and we’re not going to argue with traders on that call. The Mexican is a sensational fighter with a proud unbeaten record, bags of skill, and the power to take his opponents out anytime during the contest. He isn’t yet the finished article in terms of being the complete fighter, but there’s no doubt Rey has the qualities and determination to go far in this sport. He could have the full package and go on to dominate the division, just like many of his countrymen, including Saul Alvarez and Antonio Barrera.

He enters this contest with a professional record detailing 36 wins from as many outings, scoring 22 knockouts in the process. Vargas is ranked as the number one featherweight in the world, ahead of Brandon Figueroa who was in action last weekend against Mark Magsayo with the latter at number three on the list. The division is one of the most famous in boxing and has that familiar competitive feel. The top five has two Mexicans, a pair of Americans, and British fighter Leigh Wood who returns to the ring this month against Mauricio Lara, another Mexican who is proving to be quite a handful.

Another win this weekend would see Vargas tighten his grip over the division, pulling clear of the chasing pack. He would then face a question about his next move. Will he hang around and fight the winner of Wood v Lara which takes place in Nottingham, England this month, or does he add weight and attempt to win another major title in a higher division? His great form means Vargas has options, but only if he lives up to expectations against Foster on Saturday. Rey enjoys great form and has more to offer, but knows his continued growth relies on him protecting that unbeaten record. He must beat Foster and it would do wonders for his career if he was to get the win in style.

Rey Vargas vs O’Shaquie Foster Prediction

We’re sticking with the favorite to win this contest, but the -200 price doesn’t do much to get us excited. There are other markets available, including the method of victory, total rounds, and winning round. Trawl through the available options at Caesars Sportsbook and find the one that matches your prediction while offering a shot at decent odds.

Foster already has 19 wins on his record, but he has lost twice already. Both defeats have come on points, losing twice early in his career with both on the scorecards, including a split decision. With nine wins on the bounce, Foster arrives with confidence and bettors shouldn’t be too hard on him regarding those two defeats. He’s not here simply to make up the numbers and has the skills to cause his opponent problems.

Although we respect the challenger and what he brings to the table, our stake will be resting on Vargas to win on points, a bet you’ll find in the method of victory market.

How to Watch Rey Vargas vs O’Shaquie Foster

• Tom Brown (TGB Promotions)
• Alamodome, San Antonio
• Sunday, 11 February, 04:00 GMT
• Live on Showtime