Madison Square Garden hosts world championship boxing this Friday night, as O’Shaquie Foster defends his WBC super featherweight title for the second time against Abraham Nova.
Sky Sports televise live Foster vs Nova in the UK, with Top Rank promoting on ESPN in the USA.
Foster (21-2, 12 KOs) has evolved into a solid world champion after two early career defeats at eight round level. The Texan is on an 11-fight winning streak, and after a dominant points win against the unbeaten Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov in March 2022, he secured a world title shot against Rey Vargas, who hadn’t tasted defeat in 36 contests.
Foster turned in a mature performance to rout Vargas on the cards, and take the Mexican’s WBC crown in San Antonio. Foster travelled to Mexico first defence last October, and halted Eduardo Hernandez in the final round when well behind on the cards. He now defends against Nova (23-1, 16 KOs), who boxes in his home state.
Nova took a step up in June 2022, but found Robeisy Ramirez too hot to handle, losing by fifth round knockout. He has rebuilt with two straight wins at super featherweight, a ten round points win against Adam Lopez in January last year, and a third round knockout of Jonathan Romero that earned him this shot at Foster.
𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑? 🔥
Watch the dramatic 11th between O’Shaquie Foster and Rocky Hernandez back in full 🧨 @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/GDDIBgqB7H
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) December 29, 2023
Prediction: Foster should take confidence from winning on the road in his last defence, and he can keep Nova at arms’ length in this one to take a clear points win.
Cortes and Carrington put undefeated records on the line and prospects look to impress – undercard preview:
Another super featherweight talent appears on the undercard, as Andres Cortes (20-0, 11 KOs) takes on Bryan Chevalier (20-1-1, 16 KOs) over a scheduled ten rounds. Cortes has been gradually improving, taking the WBC USA Silver title last time out, and he should have too much for Chevalier, with a stoppage win the likely outcome.
The other ten rounder comes at featherweight, where Bruce Carrington (10-0, 6 KOs) can win on the cards against Norway-based Bernard Angelo Torres (18-1, 8 KOs).
In eight round action, Delante Johnson (11-0, 5 KOs) should win inside the distance at super lightweight against Paulo Cesar Galdino (13-7-2, 9 KOs), and Euri Cedeno (7-0-1, 5 KOs) can do the same in his middleweight meeting with Antonio Todd (16-9, 9 KOs).
Guido Vianello (11-1-1, KO9) continues his rebuild, and he should be able to halt Moses Johnson (11-1-2, KO8) in a shootout.
SHORT & SHARP! Guido Vianello throws a lovely right hand to stop Lawrence Gabriel inside 50 seconds! 🥊💥
📺 All the action is LIVE NOW on Sky Sports Main Event! pic.twitter.com/UAGtgwC3cI
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) April 13, 2019
In six rounders, Arnold Gonzalez (13-0, 6 KOs) should stop Charles Stanford (7-4, 4 KOs) at super welterweight, and at super featherweight, Ofacio Falcon (10-0, 6 KOs) can also win early against Edward Ceballos (11-4-1, 6 KOs).
Middleweight hope Isaah Flaherty (6-0, 3 KOs) can outpoint Julien Baptiste (6-3, 3 KOs) to round off the card.
