Undefeated two-weight world champion Rey Vargas strikes up a weight class to face O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC tremendous featherweight world title in the primary occasion at Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, February 11. The introduced as we speak co-main occasion options former world champion Mario Barrios, now skilled by prime coach Bob Santos, up in opposition to Jovanie Santiago in a ten-rounder at welterweight. The telecast opener pits Cuba’s Lenier Pero and Ukraine’s Viktor Faust in a ten-rounder at heavyweight. The three-fight card airs stay on Showtime.
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“Among the finest fighters representing Mexico within the sport as we speak, Rey Vargas will look to proceed so as to add to his resume in a tricky battle in opposition to O’Shaquie Foster for the vacant WBC tremendous featherweight world title,” stated Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Vargas has continued to go each take a look at put in entrance of him, and he’ll hope to take action as soon as once more on Saturday, February 11 on Showtime. San Antonio is among the greatest battle cities within the nation, and with their hometown star Mario Barrios within the co-main occasion, plus an explosive conflict of unbeaten heavyweights because the telecast opener, there’s little doubt battle followers will wish to be out in full drive on the Alamodome.”
Tickets for the occasion will be bought by StubHub, Vivid Seats and TicketNetwork.
In Australia the occasion airs stay on Sunday, February 12.
Rey Vargas vs O’Shaquie Foster
Rey Vargas (36-0, 22 KOs) is a former WBC 122-pound world champion and present WBC featherweight world Champion who will compete in his third weight division since 2019 when he faces Foster for the vacant WBC crown. A grasp of distance with each punch within the e book at his disposal, Vargas captured his 126-pound world title in his final bout with a choice victory over Mark Magsayo on the Alamodome on Showtime final July. That marked his second outing at featherweight after the 32-year-old returned from a layoff on account of harm to attain a close to shutout determination victory over Leonardo Baez in his featherweight debut in November 2021. The product of Otumba, Mexico went on the street to the UK to seize his tremendous bantamweight title in 2017, successful a choice over beforehand unbeaten Gavin McDonnell, earlier than racking up 5 profitable title defenses. He has fought in the USA seven-straight occasions since selecting up the 122-pound title.
“The Alamodome is certainly a stupendous venue and a spot the place I’ve fantastic recollections, and we’re coming again to do it once more on February 11,” Vargas stated. “I wish to thrill the followers so Foster can come at me with no matter he has. Let’s give the followers what they need. I’ve fought every kind of types, so nothing actually surprises me. I’ve a hunch that Foster goes to return ahead and be aggressive. If he fights me tactically, then I’ll be prepared for that too.”
Following an in depth novice profession, O’Shaquie Foster (19-2, 11 KOs) turned professional in September 2012, successful his first eight bouts. The 29-year-old, who has fought 4 occasions on SHOBOX: The New Technology®, bounced again from determination losses in 2015 and 2016 to place collectively his present nine-fight successful streak. A local of Orange, Texas, who now trains in close by Houston, Foster scored a 2018 victory over the beforehand unbeaten Jon Fernandez that set him on his path towards the highest of the WBC tremendous featherweight rankings. Foster solidified his spot with a knockout of veteran former title challenger Miguel Roman in November 2020 and adopted that up with a 12-round unanimous determination over the beforehand undefeated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov in March of final 12 months.
“I admire Vargas for developing and difficult me for the world title,” Foster stated. “I’ve needed to take a variety of ‘0’s’ currently and Vargas goes to be one other one on the checklist. I’m seeking to develop into the primary world titlist to return out of my metropolis in order that I could make historical past for Orange, Texas and lift the bar for the following era. I’m prepared to point out the world that I’m one of many prime fighters.”
Mario Barrios vs Jovanie Santiago
The 27-year-old Mario Barrios (26-2, 17 KOs) returns to the ring after difficult former unified welterweight champion Keith Thurman in February 2022, dropping a choice in a hard-fought conflict. The San Antonio-product, who now trains with Santos, a prime coach, in Las Vegas, turned a 140-pound world champion in September 2019, utilizing his aggressive fashion to edge out Batyr Akhmedov and earn a unanimous determination. Barrios misplaced the tremendous light-weight title in one other motion packed, extremely aggressive bout, as he was defeated by three-division and five-time world champion Gervonta Davis in June 2021.
“Everybody is aware of I include every thing I obtained once I step into the ring, and I’m excited to be again for this massive alternative on Showtime,” stated Barrios. “I’m much more motivated understanding that I get to battle again at dwelling in San Antonio and provides my folks an important battle. Everybody goes to see pure boxing leisure as I’ll be placing my expertise on show with unhealthy intentions. I’ve confirmed that I’m a warrior each time I get into the ring and I’m bringing that very same vitality for Santiago.”
Born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and now residing in Dorado, Jovanie Santiago (14-2-1, 10 KOs) impressed in his U.S. debut in February 2021 regardless of dropping a aggressive determination in opposition to four-division champion Adrien Broner on Showtime. The 31-year-old adopted that up in Could difficult prime 140-pound contender Gary Antuanne Russell in a bout he misplaced by sixth-round stoppage. Previous to these fights, Santiago had received 4 of 5 contests by knockout, a streak that adopted a 10-round determination conquer DeMarcus Corley in 2017. Santiago’s solely blemish earlier than the Broner battle was a majority attract simply his third professional contest.
“That is going to be a really thrilling battle,” stated Santiago. “I’m able to go in there and throw a variety of punches. Barrios and I are each seeking to bounce again from losses and present that we’re elite fighters. That’s going to make this an action-packed battle and I do know that I’ve every thing it takes to depart with my hand raised. The followers in San Antonio can anticipate us to provide it our all from begin to end.”
Lenier Pero vs Viktor Faust
A 2016 Olympian from Camaguey, Cuba, Lenier Pero (8-0, 5 KOs) had an in depth and extremely profitable novice profession that spanned over 100 fights, together with a number of victories over countryman Frank Sanchez and efforts in opposition to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, heavyweight prospect Filip Hrgovic and Olympic Gold Medalist Bakhodir Jalolov. The 30-year-old now fights out of Miami, Fla., and made a profitable U.S. debut on New Yr’s Day 2022, defeating then-unbeaten Geovany Bruzon. He’s added two extra victories since then, most lately knocking out Joel Caudle in a bout streamed by way of the Showtime Sports activities YouTube channel and Showtime Boxing Fb web page in August.
“I’m actually trying ahead to creating my Showtime debut on February 11,” stated Pero. “Ever since I began boxing, I’ve been working towards my purpose of turning into the primary Cuban heavyweight world champion. Faust is an effective opponent, and that is by far the most important battle of my profession. A victory will skyrocket my profession and put me in an important place. I’m going to grab this second and convey dwelling a victory for my folks in Cuba.”
Viktor Faust (11-0, 7 KOs) returns to battle within the U.S. after his final stateside outing noticed him interact in certainly one of 2022’s most unpredictable and fast-paced slugfests. The 30-year-old squared off with Iago Kiladze in January 2022 with each males hitting the canvas an astonishing 5 occasions mixed in lower than 5 minutes of motion earlier than the Ukrainian closed out the motion in spherical two to earn a TKO. Faust has adopted that up with determination wins over veteran title challenger Kevin Johnson in August and Franklin Lawrence in December earlier than he returns to battle within the U.S. for the third time.
“This can be a nice alternative for me to point out off my skills within the U.S.,” stated Faust. “I’m particularly glad to be again in opposition to an important opponent like Pero. He was a very good novice, and I do know we’ll each be very assured heading into this battle. I’m going to win and present everybody that I’m able to do every thing potential to achieve my purpose and develop into world champion.”
Vargas vs Foster battle card
The present Vargas vs Foster lineup will be discovered under. The finalized battle card is anticipated to be introduced shortly.
Rey Vargas vs. O’Shaquie Foster, 12 rounds, tremendous featherweight- vacant WBC tremendous featherweight titleMario Barrios vs. Jovanie Santiago, 10 rounds, welterweightLenier Pero vs. Viktor Faust, 10 rounds, heavyweight
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