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The Mexican Rey Vargas might not become a three-time world champion when he fell to the American O’Shaquie Foster, who won the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title at the legendary Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The judges’ decision was unanimous in favor of the American (116-112, 117-111 and 119-109) and was in correspondence with his iron dominance over the double Mexican world champion.
“It wasn’t easy,” Foster said in the center of the ring. “I have a great team around me. It’s crazy.”
Living up to his ‘Ice Water’ alias, Foster chilled Vargas who never felt comfortable with the speed and elusiveness of the American who was not out of place in the first title fight of his career.
He already said it before. You can have good legs to run and to fight. And Foster dedicated himself to running,” said a visibly upset Vargas, adding that he didn’t think the difference in the bout was in line with the judges’ scores.
Foster, 29, extended his winning streak to 10, since losing a split decision to Rolando Chinea in July 2016. He now stands at 20-2-0, 11 KO’s.
Vargas, 32, left his record at 37-1, 22 KO’s and might not emulate his compatriot Emanuel ‘Vaquero’ Navarrete, who eight days ago won the World Boxing Organization super featherweight title to win the title in a third division.
Despite the loss, Vargas, who for the first time in a long time did not have the advice in the corner of experienced trainer Nacho Beristaín, still holds the WBC featherweight belt.
We will expand shortly…
Mario Barrios sweeps the floor with Jovanie Santiago
In what was expected to be a great fight where the historic rivalry between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans would be on the table, the American of Aztec origin, Mario Barrios (27-2-0, 18 KO’s), feasted until he won by technical knockout. Puerto Rican Jovanie Santiago (14-3-1, 10 KO’s) at welterweight.
“It feels great. It took me a little while to warm up, but I felt great,” Barrios said following the race. “I wouldn’t say tonight was any different, but it was one with a broader repertoire from me. I’m so grateful to have Bob [Santos] in my corner and with my sister too”.
Santiago was never a match for Barrios who knocked him down in the eighth round before at 1:42 seconds the corner of the Caribbean decided to request the stoppage of the contest.
“I felt that I was wearing him down and that [el nocaut] was regarding to fall It was a matter of being patient,” she stressed.
With this win, Barrios secures the WBC Continental Americas welterweight title and returns to winning ways following successive losses to starlets Gervonta Davis and Keith Thurman.
“I definitely feel at the same level as the best welterweights,” remarked the former super lightweight world champion. “I still have something to prove. I promised my city a world title. I gave it to them in 2019 and I will do it one more time.”
Lenier Peró stops Viktor Faust by knockout
When it seemed that night was falling for heavyweight Lenier Peró, the Cuban managed to knock out the Ukrainian mole Viktor Faust in the eighth round, maintain his undefeated record in professional boxing and win the Fedelatino heavyweight title of the Association World Boxing Championship (WBA).
A right hook to the soft areas unleashed pandemonium for the European fighter who, with patience, had been eroding the Antillean’s strategy, although the Compubox numbers show a higher success rate for the Caribbean.
The Ukrainian felt the blow and then received a straight left from the Cuban. After the sequence, Faust turned his back and Peró took the opportunity to launch several combinations that forced the referee Rafael Ramos to stop the fight at 2:28 minutes.
“It was a very difficult fight once morest a great boxer, but we were gaining confidence until we ended up prevailing in the eighth round,” Peró said. “We were already looking to go to Faust’s body from the first round. His punches weren’t affecting me and then I put the finishing touch on him.”
“This is professional boxing, and you can’t turn your back on anyone. I didn’t turn my back and I took advantage of my opportunity,” added the Cuban. “I always rise to increasingly difficult challenges, and I prevailed following a hard fight. Now I believe that I deserve to face the elite of my division.
This result leaves Peró with a record of 9-0-0, 6 KO’s, while Faust leaves his record at 11-1-0, 7 KO’s.
“I am at the level of the best. I have my eyes set on England, what do you think? Let’s see if the British are encouraged to come to the United States, I will welcome them with open arms. I mean Tyson Fury, Dubois …come everyone!” emphasized the former Cuban Olympian.
According to the Showtime press group, Faust was taken to Downtown Baptist Hospital following the fight.
Results: February 11 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas (Showtime)
• Championship fight: king vargas P (DU-12/12) O’Shaquie Foster wins vacant WBC super featherweight title
• Mario Barrios G (TKO-8/10) Jovanie Santiago, welterweight
• Lenier Peró G (TKO-8/10) Viktor Faust, heavyweight
• Claudio Marrero G (TKO-5/8) Gonzalo Fuenzalida, lightweight
• Eumir Félix Marcial G (TKO-2/8) Ricardo Ruben Villalba, middleweight
• David Whitmire G (KO-1/4) Keith Foreman, superwelter
• Dainier Peró G (DU-4/4) Daniel Zavala, heavy
• Manuel Sifuentes P (DM-4/4) Jesus Ponce Aguilar, light heavyweight
• Fabian Diaz G (TKO-1/4) Eleazar Mendietta, lightweight
• Daniel Heinen P (DD-4/4) James Wohlschlegel, semipesado
