O’SHAQUIE Foster will step into the Prudential Center tomorrow night to defend his WBC super featherweight title against Robson Conceição. The fight against the former Olympic gold medalist will be a co-main event with Shakur Stevenson’s showdown with Artem Harutyunyan.
While the likes of Stevenson (a three-division world champion) might take occasions like this for granted, or even take them for granted for a fighter like Foster, it has taken him a long time to reach such a high position and is now in the discussion for an immediate unification bout with 130-pound contenders.
“I just have to go in there and be myself. That’s the most important thing. I’m healthy. So people are going to see a different fighter than they saw the last time I was out there,” the 30-year-old Texan said.
Foster is preparing for a stronger performance, seemingly still disappointed with his performance in February, when he edged out first-round opponent Abraham Nova (below) on points.
“I couldn’t do what I wanted in the fight against Abraham Nova. I couldn’t move my legs the way I wanted. But, there’s no reason. I’m going to go out and show the world that I’m at a higher level than this guy,” ‘Ice Water’ said, before discussing his next opponent, Conceição.
“I had a long amateur career, so I’ve seen his style many times. We have great training partners who imitate him. I’ve always prided myself on my defense, so we’ll find out when we get into it.”
While he was always talented, Foster needed to overcome his personal demons and get his life together both in and out of the ring. Before O’Shaquie hit it big, he fought Spaniard Jon Fernandez in Oklahoma in 2018. Foster won that night, 98-92, all-around. Was Fernandez surprised by what his conqueror accomplished, or did he always see the potential looming before him?
“At the time I fought O’Shaquie Foster, he wasn’t as famous as he is now. But as soon as the fight was over, I knew he was a very, very good fighter and he was going to go on to fight for the world title and become a world champion,” explained Fernandez, who will fight Dalton Smith for the European title.
“And O’Shaquie Foster himself told me after the game that he had issues with his team before, so he got a new team and he was improving and he was going to start improving his game. And that’s obviously what happened.”
As quickly as Foster has turned his career around, his opponent tomorrow night, Robson Conceição, seems unlikely to make a professional breakthrough. The loss of his world title to main eventer Stevenson, as well as a controversial loss to Oscar Valdez, have hurt.
Refusing to be pessimistic, beating Emanuel Navarrete to a draw in late 2023, Robson believes that all good things come to those who wait and that O’Shaquie Foster – who had to fight hard to win the WBC world title from Eduardo Hernandez in 2023 – will see his luck run out this time.
“Everything in my career has not been easy. As an amateur, I had three chances to win a gold medal. I see the same path as a professional. And on Saturday, I will be ready,” Conceição said.
“I don’t see these challenges as pressure. I see them as motivation. So I am motivated, and I am looking forward to this match on Saturday. I will be the new world champion. No pressure. Just motivation.”
