O’Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) wants to unify the 130 lb division if possible before moving up to 135 in search of a big fight at lightweight after defeating WBC super featherweight champion Robson Conceicao by split decision 12 rounds. last Saturday night.
(Credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank)
Orange, Texas native Foster defeated Conceicao (19-3-1, 9 KOs) in their rematch at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. Like their previous fight last July, Saturday night’s battle was close, with the judges scoring it 115-113, 115-113 for Foster and 115-113 for Conceicao.
Foster has his sights set on fighting the winner of the WBO super featherweight match between champion Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez. Of those two, Foster wants Valdez because he lost to him in the amateurs several years ago.
If all goes well, Foster hopes to become the undisputed super featherweight champion by 2026 and then move up to lightweight. He’d still be young at 32 when he moves, and it’s possible he could have some big fights if he’s not beaten before he gets there by one of the 130-pound champions.
It would be difficult for Foster to become the undisputed champion at 130 because it would mean beating these champions:
– Emanuel Navarrete: WBO.
– Lamont Roach: WBA
– Anthony Cacace: IBF
If IBF champion Cacace loses his title to Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez, he would be the one Foster would face for that belt. That would be a very tough fight for him because he will be facing a big puncher in Nunez, who can fight on the inside to take advantage of the hold he does.
Foster will likely move to 135 if he successfully defeats the Navarrete vs. Valdez II rematch winner. It’s a money fight for Foster, and if he wins, he can use the win to set up a well-paid fight at lightweight.
Staying at 130 after facing the Navarrete-Valdez winner would be foolish for Foster because sooner or later he will be beaten, and not by decision if he faces a big puncher like Nunez. Foster’s finesse style won’t work against Nunez or some of the other young contenders who take advantage of his lack of power and the ring attire he showed last night against Conceicao.
“If we can get it in 2025 or the beginning of 2026. I’m not really trying to be at 130 for too long. I try to unify and go as undisputed if I can. If I can’t, I try to look for fights bigger at 135,” O’Shaquie Foster told the media after his victory over Robson Conceicao on Saturday night, revealing his plans.
If Foster can’t get the winner of the Navarrete-Valdez fight, he should move up to lightweight because there are good fights available to him right now. Staying at 130 would mean Foster has to defend against his WBC titleholder Eduardo Hernandez, and that guy gave him a lot of trouble in their October 28th fight.
Foster was behind on two of the judges’ scorecards going into the 11th and needed to knock out Hernandez in the 12th to get the win. In a rematch, Foster might not be so lucky because the 28-year-old Hernandez has looked impressive in his last two fights since, and he might have too much youth and power for the former Texas native.
“I don’t really care. I’m not the type to pick and choose styles. I feel like I can fit in with anybody,” Foster said when asked who he was aiming for at lightweight when it moves
The lack of power that Foster showed against Conceicao last night puts him at a huge disadvantage against almost every lightweight in the division. Putting Foster with someone like Raymond Muratalla, William Zepeda, or Keyshawn Davis will not end well for him. Even a pure boxer like Andy Cruz would be a nightmare for Foster.
“I want to get (Oscar) Valdez for sure because we fought in the amateurs,” Foster said. “He beat me. I was 17 years old, and I had just qualified for the trials. He beat me when we did USA vs. Mexico. So, that’s always been in the back of my mind.”
Obviously, a fight against Valdez would pay more for Foster than a match against Navarrete right now. So it makes sense for Foster to want to fight Valdez, but the odds of that happening aren’t good. Valdez was dominated by Navarrete last year in August in a one-sided 12-round decision loss, and will likely lose the rematch on December 7th.
“I still want to get back, but I like Valdez. Good luck to my friend, of course,” Foster said of Oscar Valdez’s upcoming fight next month against WBC super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete on December 7 .
Top Rank should focus on competing with the winner of the Navarrete vs. Valdez fight against someone with a more entertaining style. If you are Top Rank, it is risky to put in fights that are booed and turn off the fans, as we saw with the two fights of Foster against Conceicao. Foster’s style is too boring.
It’s important that Top Rank puts on events that fans want to watch on ESPN. The Conceicai-Foster II rematch last night was pure poison. It was so boring. Top Rank brass should park Foster for undercard assignments from here on out and use the Rafael Espinoza vs. Robeisy Ramirez winner to challenge the Navarrete-Valdez II winner. It would be good to bury Foster deep on the undercards and focus on more entertaining fighters to be high on TV slots.
