The super featherweight division will have an exciting showdown this Friday at Madison Square Garden as champion O’Shaquie Foster defends his belt against challenger Abraham Nova.
Foster will be making the second defense of the WBC belt after winning dominantly in February 2023 when he stopped Rey Vargas. The Cleveland native has compiled an impressive 21-2 record, showing speed, skill, and punching power along the way.
Meanwhile, Nova will look to seize the biggest opportunity of his burgeoning career. The Puerto Rican challenger has amassed a 21-1 mark, with his only loss coming against top prospect Robeisy Ramirez. Nova has won two consecutive fights since then, showing the talent and determination to compete at the championship level.
With the WBC super featherweight championship on the line, Foster and Nova are ready to put on a show for the New York fans. Their clash of styles should result in a tense chess match between the skilled champion and the offensive-minded challenger. The winner will take a big step forward in a stacked division.
When and where:
Friday, February 16, 9:00 pm ET / 6:00 pm PT at The Theater in Madison Square Garden in New York City
Ring Walks time:
(Estimated) 11 pm ET / 8:00 pm PT
Moneyline odds:
O’Shaquie Foster 1.14
Abraham Nova 6.14
Where Can I Watch it?
ESPN and Sky Sports
Why Bet on O’Shaquie Foster?
O’shanique “Ice Water” Foster, is from Orange, Texas. He had a stellar amateur career, winning National Golden Gloves Championships in 2014 and 2015. Foster won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Amateur Boxing Championships.
As a professional boxer, Foster has a record of 21-2 with 12 knockouts. He made his professional debut in 2015 and steadily moved up the rankings at 130 pounds. Foster won the WBC Continental Super Featherweight Americas title in 2018 by defeating Frank De Alba. In 2019, he defeated Jon Fernandez and Alberto Mercado dominantly.
At 30 years old, Foster is in the prime of his career. His 5’7″ frame is average for the super featherweight division. With a southpaw stance, his left hand will be his power hand from an unorthodox angle. He will enter this fight as the defending WBC 130-pound champion.
Foster defeated Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez with a dramatic KO in the eleventh round of their last fight.
Why Bet on Abraham Nova?
Abraham Nova turned professional in 2016 after a successful amateur career. He was a top-ranked amateur boxer in Puerto Rico, winning gold medals at the Puerto Rican National Championships and the Central American and Caribbean Games.
As a professional, Nova has risen quickly in the rankings with a knockout ratio of 88%. He made his professional debut in 2016 at just 18 years old, scoring a first-round knockout against Eduardo Melendez. He continued his knockout streak, winning his first 15 fights at the distance.
Abraham has a one-inch height advantage over Foster. He also possesses an identical 66-inch reach. With an orthodox stance, Nova’s right hand will be his power hand. He comes in with a 21-1 professional record and an impressive 16 wins by knockout.
Abraham is currently ranked No. 12 in the WBO super featherweight rankings and is coming off of a July 2023 defeat of Jonathan Romero.
Final Betting Analysis: O’Shaquie Foster vs. Abraham Nova
This story of the belt features an even matchup on paper. Both fighters are in their physical prime with similar builds and experience levels. Power could make the difference, and Nova has more knockout victories to his credit. But Foster’s southpaw stance could neutralize Nova’s right hand.
This matchup will likely go into the later rounds, where Foster’s championship experience and pedigree will give him the edge over the talented, but less experienced Nova.
Both fighters have knockout power, but Foster has shown he can go deep in fights. He will look to use his jab and footwork to control the pace and distance early. As Nova begins to take more risks in search of the knockout in the second half of the fight, Foster will make him pay with timely counters.
The Puerto Rican will have his moments, but eventually, the champion’s technical skills will be too much to overcome. We expect Foster to wear Nova down before finally knocking him out in the championship rounds, retaining his title by knockout in the final round. His superior boxing IQ and his ability to adapt mid-fight will be the difference against Nova.
Go for a victory for the defending champion at 1.14. If you bet $100 at such odds, you could get $14 for a total payout of $114.
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