O’Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) desires to unify the 130-lb division if potential earlier than transferring as much as 135 to search for an enormous struggle at light-weight after defeating WBC tremendous featherweight champion Robson Conceicao by a 12-round break up determination final Saturday evening.
(Credit score: Mikey Williams/Prime Rank)
The Orange, Texas native Foster edged Conceicao (19-3-1, 9 KOs) of their rematch on the Turning Stone Resort On line casino in Verona, New York. Like their earlier struggle final July, Saturday evening’s battle was shut, with the judges scoring it 115-113, 115-113 for Foster and 115-113 for Conceicao.
Foster has his sights set on preventing the winner of the WBO tremendous featherweight match between champion Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez. Of these two, Foster desires Valdez as a result of he misplaced to him within the amateurs a few years in the past.
If all the pieces goes proper, Foster hopes to develop into the undisputed tremendous featherweight champion by 2026 after which transfer as much as light-weight. He would nonetheless be younger at 32 when he strikes up, and it’s potential he might get some huge fights if he isn’t crushed earlier than getting there by one of many 130-pound champions.
It will be troublesome for Foster to develop into the undisputed champion at 130 as a result of that might imply beating these champions:
– Emanuel Navarrete: WBO.
– Lamont Roach: WBA
– Anthony Cacace: IBF
If IBF champion Cacace loses his title to Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez, he can be the one Foster would face for that belt. That will be a really arduous struggle for him as a result of he can be going through an enormous puncher in Nunez, who can struggle on the within to reap the benefits of the holding he does.
Foster will possible transfer as much as 135 if he efficiently defeats the Navarrete vs. Valdez II rematch winner. That’s a cash struggle for Foster, and if he wins, he can use the victory to arrange a nice-paying struggle at light-weight.
Staying at 130 after going through the Navarrete-Valdez winner can be silly for Foster as a result of he’ll get crushed eventually, and never by a call if he faces an enormous puncher like Nunez. Foster’s finesse fashion gained’t work towards Nunez or among the different younger contenders who would reap the benefits of his lack of energy and the ring put on that he confirmed final evening towards Conceicao.
“If we will get it inside 2025 or early 2026. I’m actually not attempting to be at 130 for too lengthy. I’m attempting to unify and go as undisputed if I can. If I can’t, I’m attempting to seek for greater fights at 135,” mentioned O’Shaquie Foster to the media after his win over Robson Conceicao final Saturday evening, revealing his plans.
If Foster can’t get the winner of the Navarrete-Valdez struggle, he ought to transfer as much as light-weight as a result of there are good fights accessible to him proper now. Staying at 130 would imply Foster having to defend towards his WBC obligatory Eduardo Hernandez, and that man gave him numerous issues of their conflict 12 months on October 28.
Foster was behind on two of the judges’ scorecards going into the eleventh and wanted to knock out Hernandez within the twelfth to get the win. In a rematch, Foster won’t get fortunate as a result of the 28-year-old Hernandez has regarded spectacular in his final two fights since, and he may need an excessive amount of youth and energy for the getting older Texas native.
“It actually wouldn’t matter to me. I’m not the kind that picks and chooses types. I really feel like I can modify to anyone,” mentioned Foster when requested who he can be focusing on at light-weight when he strikes up.
The shortage of energy that Foster confirmed towards Conceicao final evening would put him at an enormous drawback towards nearly any of the highest lightweights within the division. Placing Foster in with somebody like Raymond Muratalla, William Zepeda, or Keyshawn Davis gained’t finish properly for him. Even a pure boxer like Andy Cruz can be a nightmare for Foster.
“I need to get [Oscar] Valdez for positive as a result of we fought within the amateurs,” mentioned Foster. “He beat me. I used to be 17, and I had simply certified for the trials. He beat me once we did USA vs. Mexico. So, that has all the time been at the back of my thoughts.”
Clearly, a struggle towards Valdez would pay extra for Foster than a match towards Navarrete proper now. So, it is smart for Foster to need to struggle Valdez, however the probabilities of that occuring aren’t good. Valdez was dominated by Navarrete final 12 months in August in a one-sided 12-round determination loss, and he’ll possible lose the rematch on December seventh.
“I nonetheless need to get that again, however I like Valdez. Good luck to buddy, for positive,” mentioned Foster about Oscar Valdez’s upcoming struggle subsequent month towards WBC tremendous featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete on December seventh.
Prime Rank ought to deal with matching the winner of the Navarrete vs. Valdez struggle towards somebody with a extra entertaining fashion. For those who’re Prime Rank, it’s dangerous to be placing on fights which might be booed and switch off the followers, as we noticed with Foster’s two fights towards Conceicao. Foster’s fashion is just too boring.
It’s essential that Prime Rank placed on occasions that followers need to watch on ESPN. Final evening’s Conceicai-Foster II rematch was pure poison. It was so boring. The Prime Rank brass ought to park Foster for undercard assignments from right here on out and use the Rafael Espinoza vs. Robeisy Ramirez winner to problem the Navarrete-Valdez II victor. It will be good to bury Foster deep on undercards and deal with the extra entertaining fighters to be excessive up on the TV slots.
