Conceicao Is Warned That The Best Of Foster Is Still To Come

Veteran cutman Aaron Navarro has been with O’Shaquie Foster for a long time and he has seen Foster grow into a champion, in and out of the ring.

“Shock” will look to make the third defense of his WBC junior lightweight world title on July 6th against Robson Conceicao at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Navarro has seen Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) progress from a club fighter to a world champion. Foster, 30, started 2023 by defeating Rey Vargas to win the world title he still owns. The whirlwind continued as Foster signed with Top Rank not long after his dramatic 12th-round knockout of Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez. Foster was down on the scorecards, and fighting in Hernandez’s home country of Mexico, but rallied for a last gasp triumph. Since then, he returned to win a split-decision over Abraham Nova in his Top Rank debut in February. 

“I really believe he is going to be one of those guys when it is all over with,” said Navarro. “His trainer, Bobby [Benton] is correct in what he said, nobody has seen 100 per cent of that kid yet as far as what he can do inside the ring, and what we know he is capable of.”

Foster was a hard luck fighter. After two professional losses to Samuel Teah and Rolando Chinea, Foster found himself in a correctional facility in Orange, Texas, his hometown. Foster appeared to be heading down a rough road.

“He is one of those guys that we shouldn’t even be talking about right now,” said Navarro. “He should be another one of those unfortunate stories that all of us have heard.”

Yet, Foster isn’t. Upon his release, Foster won 12 straight fights. Navarro credits his growth and maturity to his development inside the ring. Reviving his career with a close team including his head trainer, Bobby Benton, cut man Navarro, and manager Keith Mills.

“I remember Gordon Hall telling me this before Shock fought Rey Vargas,” said Navarro. “He said if I didn’t know that was the same kid that we had talked to a few years ago in Vegas before he lost that decision to Sam Teah, I wouldn’t even know it was the same guy, he has changed that much,”

Conceicao (18-2-1, 9 KOs) will be fighting for the world title for his fourth time. He has come up short in his previous attempts as the 2016 Olympic gold medalist looks to achieve his last goal in the sport – a world title. Conciecao, given his 35 years, is unlikely to secure another shot if he loses.

Navarro believes Foster has the potential to be one of the best of his era in his division with his hope being consolidation of the titles at the junior lightweight division.

“I truly believe he can win the other three belts that he doesn’t have if we can make it happen,” said Navarro. “We know in boxing there is business and politics of getting big promoters together, but I truly believe that he beats the other three guys with the belts.”