Mikey Garcia (39-1, 30 KO), the one-time world champion in boxing’s featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight divisions, will take to the ring in the welterweight division on Saturday night. He will face Jessie Vargas (29-2-2, 11 KO), who has held belts in two divisions of his own, in the main event of a card set for broadcast on DAZN, in an event set to take place in Frisco, Texas, at The Ford Center at The Star. This fight is for the vacant WBC Diamond Welterweight Championship. Vargas has the edge when it comes to base size and height, but Garcia remains the favorite. Garcia is set at -550 right now, while Vargas’ moneyline is +375. Take a look at our boxing betting thoughts on this matchup before you lock in your wagers.
Garcia vs Vargas Fight Preview & Odds
Garcia is 39-0 as a featherweight, super featherweight or lightweight fighter. However, he is 0-1 as a welterweight, as he did not have the size to stay with IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence, when they fought in March 2019. Spence simply controlled the fight through all twelve rounds, as Garcia really never had a shot at making a dent in the champion’s defenses. However, Garcia is back, determined to show that he can reach elite status in a fourth division as well.
Garcia’s camp elected to go with Vargas as his next opponent because he has a belt in two divisions and a terrific career in his own right. Vargas has the height and the size to be the sort of challenge that Garcia wants next for himself. Garcia is optimistic that his training will help him control the action against Vargas, even though he was dismantled when he took on another opponent with similar size advantages about a year ago.
Before losing to Spence, Garcia had rolled up a series of lopsided wins. He knocked out Elio Rojas in 2016 and did the same to Dejan Zlaticanin in 2017. He delivered unanimous decision wins that were not close against Adrien Broner, also in 2017, and Sergey Lipinets and Robert Easter Jr, both in 2018.
Vargas beat Humberto Soto via knockout in the sixth round in April 2019, earning himself a slot in a headliner. He had taken a pair of majority draws against Thomas Dulorme and Adrien Broner, both in 2018. Vargas last lost in 2016, taking a unanimous decision loss against Manny Pacquiao, and then he beat Aaron Herrera on the cards before that draw against Broner.
Vargas has shown the toughness to go the distance throughout most of his fighting career. He has never had a fight end early in a loss, but he also has a difficult time delivering knockouts, as his punching power is not particularly damaging. That’s a contrast with Garcia, who made his mark in the lower weight divisions by bringing bombs. However, bringing that same power at the welterweight division is a different beast, because the opponents are bigger and can withstand the damage more easily. The fact that Vargas is three inches taller could help him significantly if he can keep his distance.
Of the two, Garcia is the better boxer in terms of technique. Vargas has similar size to Errol Spence, but Vargas does not have the speed and power that Spence brings to the ring, which is why Vargas will struggle in ways that Spence did not.
Final Prediction: Garcia wins via decision
The undercard in Frisco offers a pair of world title fights as well as the return of a former heavyweight champ. Roman Gonzalez (48-2, 40 KO) will fight Khalid Yafai (26-0, 15 KO) for the WBA World Super Flyweight Championship. The WBC World Flyweight belt will be on the line, as Julio Cesar Martinez (15-1, 12 KO) will defend his belt for the second time, this time against Jay Harris (17-0, 9 KO). Joseph Parker (26-2, 20 KO), a one-time heavyweight champion, will face Shawndell Terell winters (13-2, 12 KO), as he tries to reestablish himself as a contender.
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