A Proper Performance In San Antonio
Right then. O'Shaquie Foster has unified the super featherweight division, and he did it in the most emphatic way possible. He beat Emanuel Navarrete on a unanimous decision in San Antonio and then dropped him twice in the final round, once with a short right and once with a left hook, to put a bow on it.
Foster (26-3, 12 KOs) now holds the IBF, WBO and WBC titles. Navarrete (40-3-1, 33 KOs) got up both times, to his enormous credit, and was never stopped. But the picture was clear, and so were the cards.
The Scorecards Tell The Story
The judges had it 115-111, 118-108 and 118-108. Two of those are as lopsided as a twelve round title fight gets, and even the closest card gave Foster the clear nod. In front of a sold-out crowd, in the other man's backyard, that is a brilliant night's work.
Let's not beat around the bush, Navarrete is a monster with 33 knockouts in 44 fights, and the whole point of this contest was whether Foster could handle that pressure over twelve rounds. He did not just handle it. He boxed beautifully, picked his moments and finished the fight on the front foot.
Those Final Round Knockdowns
Dropping a fighter of Navarrete's durability once in round 12 would have been impressive. Doing it twice, when you are already well ahead, tells you everything about Foster's belief. He did not coast. He hunted. That is the sign of a fighter who knows he belongs.
Navarrete deserves enormous respect for how he took it. He acknowledged the loss afterwards, which is exactly what a great champion does. But he is now a fighter with questions to answer at this level.
What Happens Next?
Foster has just done what almost nobody thought he would do at the start of the year. He has three belts, he has the biggest name in the division beaten, and he has levels of confidence that cannot be taught. There is no obvious opponent left at 130 pounds who is his equal, so expect talk of moving up in weight or a rematch if Navarrete wants it.
Make no mistake, this is a star-making win. If you know, you know: the division runs through O'Shaquie Foster now.
Luke’s Verdict
Foster was the better man across the night, he was fitter at the end than at the start, and the knockdowns were the exclamation mark. If they did it again tomorrow I would pick him again, and I would expect a similar margin.
Catch up on my fight week piece on Navarrete vs Foster, check the fight schedule for what is next, and stay on top of everything via the news page.