Sports Writing, 11 Feb. American O’Shaquie Foster was proclaimed World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight champion on Saturday, beating Mexican Rey Vargas by unanimous decision in a fight held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The cards gave O’Shaquie the win with scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 119-109. Foster, who broke the Mexican’s unbeaten record, found himself with a record of 20 wins, 11 in the fast lane and two losses. Vargas ended up with 36 wins, 22 knockouts and one loss.
Rey scored in the first round with a straight left hand that his opponent dodged thanks to his speed and good footwork.
The Orange, Texas native showed his ability to get in, punch and get out, even leading to a slip from Vargas that sent him to the canvas in the second round.
Rey hurt Foster with curling shots to the body in the third; In a closed exchange of blows, Vargas received a headbutt that split open his left eyebrow.
Driven by his mobility, the American dominated from the fourth round.
In the fifth, O’Shaquie knocked down the man born in Otumba, State of Mexico, with a repeat of left overhands.
In the sixth round, the American maintained his dominance, his punches reddening the cheekbone of his rival’s right eye, who began to despair at the lack of force in his attacks.
Broken down, Vargas attempted overhands and right hooks that got lost in the air before O’Shaquie’s waist move that looked better in the seventh and eighth.
Despite the swelling in both eyes, Rey bravely went in search of a blow that would weaken Foster, but her desperation was heightened by the constant misses of her punches.
Going into the tenth round, O’Shaquie demonstrated his great physical condition and intelligence to shape his style, to get in, hurt and get out, the fight.
Knowing he was down on the cards, Vargas came out in the eleventh to look for the exchange; Foster didn’t hesitate, he responded forcefully with an effective left hook that shook the Mexican’s head, who had to back off.
The American endured the final bout against a physically diminished Rey Vargas to seal a brilliant display that carried him to victory.