Shakur watched the fight from the sidelines and appeared unhappy as Foster gradually took control during the second half of the contest. Ford had early success, but Foster’s pressure, activity and cleaner work allowed him to pull away. As the rounds ticked by, Stevenson could be seen reacting from his seat as he watched his close friend and longtime ally struggle to regain momentum.
The situation escalated after the final bell.
O’Shaquie made his way toward Shakur, and the two exchanged words in front of fans and cameras. The confrontation quickly became one of the night’s biggest talking points, with videos spreading across social media soon after.
Stevenson then took to X and made it clear that he was ready to discuss the fight.
“Son gone wanna shake my hand after he said he don’t shake hands. Foh, let’s fight,” Shakur says.
He followed that by dismissing any suggestion that size would be a legitimate issue between them.
“Don’t say he’s a 30 pounder either; he talked this way, now let’s go.”
Stevenson continued to press for the match.
“Tell him hoe pick up the phone, we can run it next.”
The undefeated former champion also addressed Foster’s long-standing criticism of him.
Look they’re starting, This guy screams my name on every platform.. Lies and says he hit me and ran me out of the gym when Ian never runs from nobody, I’m a man first gang Let’s get it https://t.co/aROQCHaHo0
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) 31 May 2026
One thing was clear from the exchange.
O’Shaquie has been calling for the fight since earlier this year without getting much of a public response. Saturday night’s confrontation produced the strongest response Shakur has yet given. Watching Foster beat Ford, a fighter Stevenson often referred to as a brother, seemed to turn the temperature of the rivalry.
Whether the exchange leads to actual negotiations remains to be seen. Foster left Houston with his title still around his waist. Stevenson left the arena talking about a fight he showed little interest in discussing before Saturday night.
