O’Shaquie Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) wants to unify the 130-lb division if possible before moving up to 135 to look for a big fight at lightweight after defeating WBC super featherweight champion Robson Conceicao by a 12-round split decision last Saturday night.
(Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
The Orange, Texas native Foster edged 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 many years ago.
If everything goes right, Foster hopes to become the undisputed super featherweight champion by 2026 and then move up to lightweight. He would still be young at 32 when he moves up, and it’s possible he could get some big fights if he isn’t beaten before getting there by one of the 130-pound champions.
It would be difficult for Foster to become the undisputed champion at 130 because that 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 hard fight for him because he would be facing a big puncher in Nunez, who can fight on the inside to take advantage of the holding he does.
Foster will likely move up to 135 if he successfully defeats the Navarrete vs. Valdez II rematch winner. That’s a money fight for Foster, and if he wins, he can use the victory to set up a nice-paying fight at lightweight.
Staying at 130 after facing the Navarrete-Valdez winner would be foolish for Foster because he’ll get beaten sooner or later, and not by a 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 would take advantage of his lack of power and the ring wear that he showed last night against Conceicao.
“If we can get it within 2025 or early 2026. I’m really not trying to be at 130 for too long. I’m trying to unify and go as undisputed if I can. If I can’t, I’m trying to search for bigger fights at 135,” said O’Shaquie Foster to the media after his win over Robson Conceicao last 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 having to defend against his WBC mandatory Eduardo Hernandez, and that guy gave him a lot of problems in their clash year on October 28.
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 get 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 aging Texas native.
“It really wouldn’t matter to me. I’m not the type that picks and chooses styles. I feel like I can adjust to anybody,” said Foster when asked who he would be targeting at lightweight when he moves up.
The lack of power that Foster showed against Conceicao last night would put him at a huge disadvantage against virtually any of the top lightweights in the division. Putting Foster in with someone like Raymond Muratalla, William Zepeda, or Keyshawn Davis won’t 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,” said Foster. “He beat me. I was 17, and I had just qualified for the trials. He beat me when we did USA vs. Mexico. So, that has 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 chances of that happening aren’t good. Valdez was dominated by Navarrete last year in August in a one-sided 12-round decision loss, and he’ll likely lose the rematch on December 7th.
“I still want to get that back, but I like Valdez. Good luck to buddy, for sure,” said Foster about Oscar Valdez’s upcoming fight next month against WBC super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete on December 7th.
Top Rank should focus on matching the winner of the Navarrete vs. Valdez fight against someone with a more entertaining style. If you’re Top Rank, it’s risky to be putting on fights that are booed and turn off the fans, as we saw with Foster’s two fights against Conceicao. Foster’s style is too boring.
It’s important that Top Rank put on events that fans want to watch on ESPN. Last night’s Conceicai-Foster II rematch was pure poison. It was so boring. The 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 victor. It would be good to bury Foster deep on undercards and focus on the more entertaining fighters to be high up on the TV slots.
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