Antonio Vargas vs. Jesse Rodriguez: Betting Odds, Predictions, and Fight Preview

The FIFA World Cup dominates sporting headlines across the United States this week, but there’s plenty to keep fight fans entertained as Antonio Vargas takes on Jesse Rodriguez.

The American pair go toe-to-toe in a contest set for 12 rounds at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. You can follow the action live on DAZN, with the main event expected to start at around 04:00 BST. That’s perfect for those staying up late to watch Scotland take on Haiti in the Tartan Army’s long-awaited return to the World Cup.

• Antonio Vargas has lost only one of 21 fights.

• Jesse Rodriguez has a perfect 23-0-0 record.

• You can follow the action live on DAZN

Vargas will duck between the ropes on fight night, ranked as the 15th best bantamweight in the world. That’ll improve if the fighter from Texas can find a way to win on Saturday. To achieve that, Vargas must out-fight and out-think the all-conquering Rodriguez, who dominated at super flyweight. How will the Texan get on against a naturally bigger fighter in Antonio?

Antonio Vargas vs. Jesse Rodriguez Odds

Odds below are provided by BetMGM, one of our top-ranked boxing betting sites. Join BetMGM today with our bonus code WSNSPORTS and claim up to $1,500 back in bonus bets* should you lose your first wager.

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It’s obvious to see why the market supports Rodriguez. He is the more experienced fighter, has campaigned at a higher level than his opponent, and brings a fearsome 70% knockout average. However, there’s one drawback; every $200 risked on Jesse returns a $10 profit. For me, the risk is just too high for such a small reward. There’s value elsewhere.

If you are after a bet at more appealing odds, you may wish to support the underdog. Vargas is a respected fighter who is unbeaten since 2019. Antonio has scored nine wins in that time, including the 10th round TKO of Winston Guerrero in Orlando. The same $10 stake on Vargas pays a $100 profit if the 29-year-old delivers.

Vargas Form and Figures

Antonio Vargas is a professional fighter from Houston, now based in Florida. The 5’5” orthodox boxer is ranked at number two in the United States behind Michael Angeletti. He sits well off the pace set by Japan’s Seiya Tsutsumi in the global charts. Taking his career to 20 wins against one draw and a defeat would set up a fascinating year for Team Vargas.

The only defeat on Antonio’s card was inflicted by Jose Maria Cardenas in Kissimmee more than seven years ago. Vargas was stopped inside a round that evening, but wasted no time getting his career back on track. Despite an eye-catching winning run, Vargas ended level with Daigo Higa after 12 hard-fought rounds in Japan last time. A statement win is required.

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Rodriguez Form and Figures

Jesse Rodriguez is a 26-year-old southpaw boxer born and fighting out of San Antonio, Texas. Since making his professional debut in 2017, Bam has built a 23-fight winning streak. That run earned Jesse the WBC and WBO world super flyweight title. He was last seen in action defending those belts when stopping Fernando Daniel Martinez in round 10 of 12.

If you expect Rodriguez to win again this weekend, you may find it interesting to learn that he stopped his previous five opponents inside the distance. Each of his last 2 ended in round 10, with the others stopped in round nine, seven, and three. Rodriguez by KO/TKO will attract plenty of attention this weekend, and trades at around -500 with most betting apps.

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Vargas vs. Rodriguez Prediction

Armchair fans look forward to an exciting fight, and I don’t expect this one to end early. Each of Antonio’s last two bouts lasted at least 10 rounds. Jesse’s last two fights ended in the 10th round, stopping Phamelela Cafu in Frisco, and Fernando Daniel Martinez in Saudi Arabia. With that in mind, I suggest a bet on over in the total rounds market, picking over 8.5 rounds.

Judging by the odds available in the method of victory market, betting traders expect Rodriguez to win by KO/TKO, but Vargas won’t be blown away. He’s too smart, experienced, and fit to be drawn into a shoot-out with a big-punching rival. Instead, he’ll battle to gain the upper hand on his southpaw rival, hoping his natural strength is enough to slow Jesse down.

If you’re after a bet at higher odds, I’d push Rodriguez to win on points at +400 with the leading sportsbooks featured on this page. When following, you need this fight to travel the scheduled distance and for Rodriguez’s hand to be raised at the end of play.

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How to Watch Vargas vs. Rodriguez

• Location: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, USA

• Date: Saturday, June 13

• Time: 8:00 PM ET

• Streaming: Live on DAZN