- What: O'Shaquie Foster vs Abraham Nova
- Where: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City
- When: Friday, February 16th
O'Shaquie Foster will put his WBC junior lightweight title on the line Friday evening at Madison Square Garden when he steps in the ring with Abraham Nova, who will be looking to pull off the upset. This 12-round clash is set to get started around 9 PM ET. This isn't exactly a high-profile fight but it could be a very entertaining one between two talented guys. Foster retained his belt back in October with a TKO of Eduardo Hernandez in the 12th round in Cancun. Nova meanwhile knocked out Jonatan Romero in the third round last July to set up this bout with Foster. Continue reading for the O'Shaquie Foster vs Abraham Nova picks.
Before we get into the odds and predictions for this fight, check out the best boxing betting sites and where you can find our sportsbook reviews.
Foster vs Nova Odds
Foster is a massive favorite to win this fight at -700 odds for an implied win probability of 87.50%. Nova comes back as a +450 underdog and has a mere 18.18% chance of coming out victorious here. Foster to win by TKO is priced at +160. That could be a bet to keep an eye on.
Can Foster Retain Belt Again?
Foster is a 30-year-old fighter out of Orange, Texas who stands at 5 foot 8 and has a 72-inch reach. "Ice Water" turned professional way back in 2012 and knocked out his very first opponent, ultimately going 10-0 across the next four years of his career. Overall, Foster owns a 21-2 record with 12 knockouts. His first chance at a legitimate title came last February against Rey Vargas, winning the vacant WBC super lightweight belt in a 12-round unanimous decision victory. That came on home soil in San Antonio as well. Foster landed 144 punches in total to just 101 for Vargas while also landing 87 power punches to only 66 for his opposition. Fair and square, Foster bested Vargas.
Then in October, Foster traveled down to Mexico to defend his belt against Eduardo Hernandez. It took him to the 12th round, but Foster put Hernandez on the canvas and solidified himself as a legitimate threat in this division. The American became a world champ on his very first attempt against Vargas, proving that he is the real deal and one to watch in the super featherweight division.
When you actually take a look at Foster's two defeats, it stands to reason why he's champ right now. The first one was a nail-biter decision against Samuel Teah and a split decision against Rolando Chinea. Foster comes into Friday's tilt with 11 consecutive wins, including five by knockout. He's got momentum and will surely be hungry to retain the belt at the iconic Madison Square Garden.
Tough Task For Nova
Nova hails from Carolina, Puerto Rico but grew up in New York after moving to the United States as a young child. He was a true phenom as an amateur, compiling a wild 167-11 record including 60 knockouts. Nova ultimately turned pro in 2016, winning his first 21 fights before losing to Robeisy Ramirez in June of 2022. While he's never been a world champ, Nova has held the WBA-NABA super featherweight title since 2018. This is his opportunity to really take a step up and prove he's ready to be a title contender.
The fight with world champion Ramirez proved that Nova wasn't quite ready for the bright lights as he was knocked out in the fifth round by the former WBO featherweight champion of the world. But, that bout was a year and a half ago and Nova can now show that he's made enough improvements to give Foster a run for his money here.
This fight is also a homecoming for Nova because he spent most of his childhood in NYC. Nova has the same measurements as Foster, standing 5 foot 8 with a 72-inch reach. He's more of a puncher than a boxer compared to Foster and has gone 23-1 with 16 knockouts in his career. The odds are pretty steep here but Nova does have the talent to make this a tough fight for Foster. Plus, the crowd will be on his side.
O'Shaquie Foster vs Abraham Nova Picks
As I mentioned, the odds are rather lopsided. There's zero value in betting on Foster as an outright winner, but taking him to win by KO could be a worthy option at +160 odds.
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