San Antonio’s Mario Barrios scheduled to appear in co-main event
After upsetting Mark Magsayo in July at the Alamodome to win the WBC featherweight crown, Rey Vargas never imagined he’d be fighting for another title eight months later.For Vargas, a Mexico City native, coming back to the Alamodome was a no-brainer.
“It’s definitely a beautiful venue, a place where I have wonderful memories,” Vargas said. “This is another step for me toward history and there’s no better place to do it than San Antonio.” Vargas , a Mexico City native, will attempt to join an elite class of fellow countrymen in becoming a three-division world champion when he takes on O’Shaquie Foster for the WBC vacant super featherweight title Feb. 11 at the Alamodome. Promotional companies Premier Boxing Champions and TGB Promotions didn’t hesitate in bringing Vargas back after the 32-year-old won the WBC’s 126-pound title with a split decision victory over Magsayo on July 9 in a fight that drew 5,359 fans to the Alamodome. They’re hoping to top that figure when Vargas meets Orange, Texas, native Foster for the WBC 130-pound crown . The recent addition of San Antonio welterweight Mario Barrios to the undercard should provide a big boost.The 10-round welterweight bout will end a yearlong layoff for Barrios , who has not fought since he lost to Keith Thurman on Feb. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. “Everyone knows I come with everything I’ve got when I step in the ring,” Barrios, 27, said in a statement. “I’m even more motivated knowing that I get to fight back at home in San Antonio and give my people a great fight.” The undefeated Vargas won his first title on Feb. 25, 2017, when he beat Gavin McDonnell for the WBC super bantamweight crown. He completed five successful title defenses at 122 before moving to 126 pounds in 2021. He defeated Magsayo in his second bout at 126 before deciding to move to 130 to take on Foster. Vargas was hoping to challenge fellow Mexican Leo Santa Cruz after beating Magsayo of the Philippines. But the fight never materialized and Vargas decided to move up in weight after Shakur Stevenson gave up his WBC and WBO 130-pound titles when he failed to make weight for a unanimous decision victory over Brazil’s Robson Conceicao in September.For Foster, 29, the fight — his first world-title opportunity — comes six years after he spent four months in jail following an aggravated assault conviction. Foster has won nine straight bouts since then and is coming off a dominating win over previously undefeated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov of Russia in March.“I’ve had to take a lot of 0s lately. I’m going to get another one this time, too,” vowed Foster, a southpaw who fought in San Antonio as an amateur and now trains in Houston. “I’m pumped for this fight because I feel it is my time to take over . “Everything happens for a reason. I had a couple setbacks and had to get focused and weed out the bad energy in my life. Now I’m ready.” Vargas made it clear he’d still like to fight Santa Cruz , a four-division champion. But he’s focused on joining an elite group of fighters and winning a title in a third weight class. “The Leo Santa Cruz fight is definitely something we have had our eyes on for years,” Vargas said. “But I’m in a new division now where I can test myself. I think this fight will be just as good of a fight as the Santa Cruz fight would be. “I haven’t decided which weight I will fight at afterward. I’m going to focus on the moment. I want to make history and do something I’ll remember for the rest of my career.”
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