Boxing

Foster Claims the WBC Super Featherweight Title to End Vargas’ Undefeated Win Streak

By James KoenNo Comments10 Mins Read

O’Shaquie Foster takes hold of the WBC Super Featherweight World Title with a triumphant unanimous decision against Rey Vargas. On Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, WBC # 1 ranked O’Shaquie Foster (20-2, 11 KOs) proved to be the superior boxer. Vargas vs Foster results in a clash for the vacant WBC super featherweight title against previously unbeaten two-division champion Rey Vargas (36-1, 22 KOs).

O’Shaquie Foster was too fast and mobile, often leaving Rey Vargas swinging at the air. Though Vargas came on a bit during the middle rounds, it was too little too late for him. Foster ultimately outboxed him with his superior footwork, skill, and technique.

For this, he earned a unanimous decision victory with scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 116-112. O’Shaquie Foster has now won 10 straight fights since his second loss in 2016. It was a point in his career where it looked like he could have flamed out at the “ShoBox level.”

However, Foster was able to grind and get his career back on track, eventually becoming the 88th fighter in history to graduate from the ShoBox series and win a world title.

“It’s been a tough journey but a great outcome,”

Foster exclaims after winning convincingly. 

We’ll walk you through an epic night of great fights in the passage below:

Vargas vs Foster Results

Here is a quick run through the major events of the night:

  • O’Shaquie Foster UD-12 Rey Vargas (117-111, 119-109, 116-112)
  • Mario Barrios TKO-8 Jovanie Santiago
  • Lenier Pero KO-8 Viktor Faust
  • Claudio Marrero TKO-5 Gonzalo Fuenzalida
  • Eumir Marcial TKO-2 Ricardo Villalba
  • Dainier Pero UD-4 Daniel Zavala
  • David Whitmire TKO-1 Keith Foreman

Foster vs Vargas Highlights

The 29-year-old Foster won a 12-round “Showtime Championship Boxing” main event by big margins against Vargas, 32. The judges’ scorecards read as: Tim Cheatham (117-111), Alejandro Rochin (119-109), and David Sutherland (116-112).

Foster was shorter than Vargas and has usually been against taller opponents. But the key difference here was that at 130 lbs, Vargas didn’t have his typical reach advantage compared to fights at 122 and 126.

The lack of reach advantage for Vargas meant he could not control the distance as efficiently. And this made a massive difference in the fight. O’Shaquie Foster landed 57 jabs compared to 35 from Vargas and had a higher accuracy rate (17 percent overall vs. 12 percent, respectively).

O’Shaquie Foster managed to land 144 of 625 (23{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}) total punches and an even higher 87 of 286 (30{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}) of his power shots. Foster was impressive throughout the fight and could even back Vargas down with well-timed punches.

In comparison, Vargas’ power never seemed to make a difference in the fight, despite having a solid knockout percentage.

Vargas landed 101 of 524 (19{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}) punches and 66 of 225 (29{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}) power punches. He did have an advantage over Foster in terms of body shots, out-landing him 62 to 14. However, it did not give him much help in winning rounds ultimately.

Vargas vs Foster Round-by-Round Coverage

Vargas enters this fight with an impressive record of 36 wins, of which 22 have been by knockout. His most recent bout was against Mark Magsayo in July 2022, where he won the WBC featherweight title after a split decision win. The two-division champion has plenty of experience and looks to add more hardware to his resume.

Foster is the slight underdog, ranked number one in the 130 lb. division by Ring Magazine. He has 19 wins under his belt, 11 of which have been by knockout. And he has dropped his opponents in both of his last two bouts. He has a major chance to spoil Vargas’ bid to hold titles in three different divisions.

Vargas vs Foster Round 1: Foster 10-9

This round is a feeling-out process, but Foster appears to be the busier one. Foster’s most significant shot of the round is an overhand right to the head in the final minute. Vargas lands a body shot in the last 30 seconds as well.

Round 2: Foster 10-9, 20-18

Vargas partially connects with a right hand. Foster tries to follow up with a left hook, but it’s not clean. Foster steps on Vargas’ foot and sends him to the canvas.

Vargas lands a body shot and then follows up with a jab. Foster lands a right hand behind a left hand, and then Vargas throws two rights, but neither land well.

Round 3: Foster 10-9, 30-27

Vargas feints a few times and then takes on a defensive stance. Foster connects with a check hook and partially lands a right hand. Foster follows up with a jab and then steps away.

Vargas is cut over his left eye from what seems to be a head clash. Vargas lands another jab soon after.

Round 4: Vargas 10-9, 37-39

Vargas’ right hand misses its mark as Foster quickly steps out of range. Vargas throws a couple of body hooks at close range but can’t land them. Foster lands a solid left hand and then follows up with another punch behind it. Just before the bell rings, Foster connects with a jab.

Round 5: Foster 10-9, 49-46

Foster lands an overhand right thirty seconds into the round, but Vargas counters with a left hook ten seconds later. He then pushes the pressure, landing some solid shots to the head in the first minute of the round. Midway through, he connects with another headshot.

In the final thirty seconds of the round, Vargas begins landing longer shots and doing the most damage we’ve seen. However, Foster quickly rallies back in the last ten seconds, likely avoiding Vargas from stealing the round.

Round 6: Vargas 10-9, 56-58

Foster feints and throws a jab that fails to connect. Vargas attempts a right hand but is rolled by Foster. He then blocks two punches from Vargas before countering back. Vargas partially lands a right hand, followed by a hook to the body. Foster returns with a right hand of his own. Nothing much is happening other than that Foster still controlling the action, though.

Round 7: Foster 10-9, 68-65

Both fighters trade jabs at center ring. Vargas throws a jab down to the body, followed by a left hook upstairs. His right hand lead misses, but Foster counters with a jab of his own. Vargas lands another jab upstairs and follows it up with a left to the body. He finishes off with a right hook that touches the body.

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Round 8: Foster 10-9, 78-74

Both fighters continue to exchange jabs before Foster takes the initiative and leaps in with a left hook lead. Vargas responds with a left to the body, then follows up with another flurry of body shots while Foster walks him down more aggressively. A jab lands upstairs for Foster and he returns with a clean uppercut before adding a jab of his own that makes partial contact.

Round 9: Vargas 10-9, 84-87

Foster jumps in with a lead left hook, only to have Vargas counter with a left hook of his own. Vargas lands a right hook to the body and then follows up with a jab that makes contact. He continues his assault with another right hook to the body before jabbing again and having Foster counter with a left hook upstairs.

Round 10: Foster 10-9, 97-93

Foster lands a left hand and follows it up with a right hand to the body. His next right hand lead makes partial contact before Vargas lands on the body and Foster counters. Foster reaches in with another right hand, landing on the inside before Vargas retaliates with a right hand up top. Foster adds one final punch – a left hook upstairs – making his mark in the fight.

Round 11: Foster 10-9, 107-102

The round starts with both fighters trading jabs before Vargas lands a left to the body and follows it up with a combination. Foster defends himself, then turns the tables by landing a left hand up top.

Vargas retaliates with his own right hand up top but misses with his following left. Foster connects with his own short right hand to cap off the exchange.

Vargas vs Foster Round 12: Vargas 10-9, 112-116

Vargas’ corner encourages him to take some risks in this round, and he responds with a jab that falls short. Foster follows up with a right hand targeting the body, and Vargas throws a combination without much success. Foster then lands a left hook upstairs, followed by a right hand lead that makes contact.

He continues his offense with another right hand upstairs, then follows it up with yet another right hand that connects. Vargas retaliates with three punches, but none of them get through.

The Champ’s Words

A joyous Foster shares his feelings with the crowd after the fight.

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“Dedication and hard work. I’ve got a great team around me, and just getting away from the distractions, getting myself mentally and physically right, and now I’m on top, man. It’s crazy,” 

Foster says after the win.

“My coach just kept telling me, ‘Pick it up, he’s ready to go.’ We couldn’t get him out but I just wanted to pick it up in the later rounds and not make it close,” 

Foster explains.

“I didn’t think it was close, but my coaches stayed on me to not let off the gas, not make it close. I wanted to close the show.”

‘We have to respect the judges,’ Vargas Says

“We have to respect the judges. I felt it was a much closer fight, but that’s their decision,”

Vargas shares his feelings after the fight via an interpreter.

“The weight might have been a little difficult. Maybe the power’s a little different. But I said from the beginning, it’s more the legs and stuff.”

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Vargas also claims that a headbutt early in the fight did not influence the outcome. He maintains his title as WBC Featherweight champion and muses about the possibility of moving back to 126, which could be the most logical option for him.

Foster vs Vargas Fight Card Highlights and Results

  • Mario Barrios TKO-8 Jovanie Santiago
  • Lenier Pero KO-8 Viktor Faust
  • Claudio Marrero TKO-5 Gonzalo Fuenzalida
  • Eumir Marcial TKO-2 Ricardo Villalba
  • Dainier Pero UD-4 Daniel Zavala (40-35, 40-36, 40-36)
  • David Whitmire TKO-1 Keith Foreman

What’s Next for Both the Competitors?

After 11 years as a professional fighter, Foster’s hard work finally pays off as he is now crowned with his first world title. His promoter must now step up to the plate and arrange a unification fight against any other champions at 130- a matchup that will surely be interesting for all to watch.

An ideal unification fight for Foster would be against Emanuel Navarrete, the recently-crowned WBO super featherweight champion who just defeated Liam Wilson last week. It promises to be an exciting match if it materializes.

Asked what he’d do next, Foster said,

“I would love to unify, but I think we’ve got two mandatories we’ve got to fulfill. But (Hector Luis) Garcia or (Emanuel) Navarrete, the winner of (Joe) Cordina and (Shavkat Rakhimov). I feel I can beat anybody.”

Unfortunately, with Navarrete promoted by Top Rank, it is improbable that Foster will have the opportunity to take him on. This makes for yet another great matchup that could never happen.

As for the 32-year-old Vargas, it would be a good idea to return to the 126 to see if he can capture another world title in that division.

So, this concludes our Foster vs Vargas encounter, with the vow that RDX Sports will be right there to cover any further proceedings.

 

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