The main card is set for 8 p.m. ET. Garcia lost a title bout to undefeated Errol Spence last year to end his own unbeaten run as a pro. He looks to get back on track against the rugged Vargas, who aims to improve his profile with an upset. Garcia is listed as a -550 favorite (risk $550 to win $100), while Vargas is a +425 underdog in the latest Garcia vs. Vargas odds at William Hill US. Before locking in your Garcia vs. Vargas picks, make sure you see the predictions from SportsLine boxing analyst Peter Kahn.
A fight game veteran with more than 20 years of experience as a manager, promoter and adviser, Kahn has his finger on the pulse of what goes on inside and outside the ring. He can be heard weekly as co-host of "The Fight Guys" podcast on the SB Nation Radio Network.
Nobody knows the welterweight division better than Kahn. When Vargas (-125) took on Adrien Broner (+100) in July 2018, Kahn told his followers that the evenly-matched bout had a much higher chance of ending in a draw than the odds suggested. He noted, "It's conceivable that each fighter could see six rounds going his way," and recommended a play on the fight ending in a draw at 18-1. Anyone who followed this advice cashed in big time, and those who have consistently followed him are way up. As the first (and subsequently only) big-name welterweight signed to Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport after the promoter inked a historic $1 billion deal with DAZN in 2018, it was somewhat apropos Jessie Vargas would be taking part in the streaming service's first significant 147-pound bout two years later.
Vargas (29-2-2, 11 KOs), a former two-division champion, was on the verge of taking his career north to junior middleweight in search of a third world title when Hearn recently signed Mikey Garcia (39-1, 30 KOs) to a one-fight deal with options.
The pair of exciting Mexican-American fighters will square off Saturday (DAZN, 8 p.m. ET) in a welterweight duel inside The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, that has both fighters hoping a victory lifts them to a summer showdown with WBA champion Manny Pacquiao. Garcia vs. Vargas preview
The boxing analyst knows the winner of this bout will be on a fast track to higher profile bouts. Garcia has long maintained that he isn't afraid to take risks. He backed up this mantra when he moved up two weight classes to face Errol Spence, the undefeated welterweight champ who is in the top five of pound-for-pound rankings by just about every boxing media outlet. Garcia was outclassed by the stronger and faster Spence and said goodbye to his undefeated record amid a lopsided decision loss.
Many observers questioned Garcia's move to welterweight, but he has stayed there for Saturday's fight with Vargas. Garcia told the media this week he has done so in order to prove he can compete at the weight class and redeem his last performance. He said he agreed to fight Vargas because he knows it will be a tough challenge and a victory will help silence his doubters.
The 30-year-old Vargas is noted for his straightforward style and action-packed bouts that often have led to close decisions.Fight card, odds
Favorite Underdog Weightclass
Mikey Garcia -500
Jessie Vargas +350
Welterweights
Julio Cesar Martinez -800 Jay Harris +550 WBC flyweight title
Khalid Yafai -125
Roman Gonzalez +105
WBA super flyweight title
Joseph Parker N/A
Shawndell Winters N/A
Heavyweights
