O’Shaquie Foster plans to unify and then move to 135

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 with a 12-round defeated by split decision 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 fight was close, with the judges scoring it 115-113, 115-113 for Foster and 115-113 for Conceicao.

Foster has set his sights on fighting the winner of the WBO super featherweight bout between champion Emanuel Navarrete and Oscar Valdez. Of these two, Foster wants Valdez because he lost to him in the amateurs many years ago.

If all goes well, Foster hopes to become the undisputed super featherweight champion by 2026 and then move up to lightweight. He’ll still be young at 32 when he moves up, and it’s possible he could get some big fights if he doesn’t get beat 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 will be the one to face Foster for that belt. This will be a very tough fight for him as he will face a big puncher in Nunez, who can fight on the inside to take advantage of the hold he does.

Foster will likely move up to 135 if he wins the Navarrete vs. Valdez II successfully defeated rematch winner. This is a money fight for Foster, and if he wins, he could use the win to set up a nice-paying fight at lightweight.

Staying at 130 after facing the Navarrete-Valdez winner would be foolish for Foster, as he will be beaten sooner or later, and not by decision if he faces a big punch 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 poise he showed last night against Conceicao.

“If we can get it by 2025 or early 2026. I really try not to be at 130 for too long. I try to unite and go as unquestionable as I can. If I can’t, I try to look for bigger fights at 135,” O’Shaquie Foster told 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 needs to move up to lightweight as there are good fights available for him right now. Staying at 130 would mean Foster would have to defend against his WBC mandatory Eduardo Hernandez, and that guy gave him plenty of trouble in their Oct. 28 clash.

Foster was down by two of the judges’ scorecards in the 11th and had to knock out Hernandez in the 12th to get the win. In a rematch, Foster may not be lucky, as the 28-year-old Hernandez has looked impressive in his last two fights since then, and he may have too much youth and power for the aging Texas native.

“It really wouldn’t matter to me. I’m not the type to pick and choose styles. I feel like I can adjust to anybody,” Foster said when asked who he would target at lightweight when he moves up.

The lack of power Foster showed last night against Conceicao will 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 will be a nightmare for Foster.

“I definitely want to get (Oscar) Valdez because we fought in the amateurs,” Foster said. “He beat me. I was 17, and I had just qualified for the trials. He beat me when we did USA vs. Mexico. So, it’s always been in the back of my mind.”

Clearly, a fight against Valdez would pay more for Foster than a matchup against Navarrete right now. So it makes sense that Foster would want to fight Valdez, but the odds of that happening aren’t good. Valdez was dominated by Navarrete in a one-sided 12-round decision loss last August, and is likely to lose the rematch on December 7.

“I still want it back, but I like Valdez. Good luck mate, for sure,” Foster said of Oscar Valdez’s upcoming fight next month against WBC super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete on December 7.

Top ranking should focus on the winner of the Navarrete vs. Valdez fight against someone with a more entertaining style to match. If you’re top ranked, it’s risky to put on fights that get booed and turn the fans off, as we saw with Foster’s two fights against Conceicao. Foster’s style is too boring.

It is important that Top Rank will put events that fans want to watch on ESPN. Last night’s Conceicai-Foster II rematch was pure poison. It was so boring. The top seed should park Foster for undercard assignments from here on out and the Rafael Espinoza vs. Using Robeisy Ramirez winner to challenge Navarrete-Valdez II winner. It would be good to bury Foster deep on undercards and focus on the more entertaining fighters to be high on the TV slots.