“Navarrete-Foster is definitely one of the vital and compelling matchups that may be made within the 130-pound division,” Olivieri acknowledged on X.
The matter went earlier than the WBO Championship Committee as a result of Suarez is ready for the rematch he has sturdy motive to consider ought to have already occurred.
His Could 2025 combat with Navarrete ended after seven accomplished rounds when a reduce over Navarrete’s left eye was dominated to have resulted from an unintentional head conflict. That despatched the combat to the scorecards, the place Navarrete obtained a technical determination.
Video proof later confirmed {that a} authorized Suarez punch brought on the reduce. Had it been dominated appropriately in the course of the combat, Suarez would have gained by stoppage and brought the WBO title. The California State Athletic Fee later modified the consequence to a no contest, and the WBO ordered a rematch.
Suarez then needed to wait whereas Navarrete confronted Eduardo Nunez in February to say the IBF belt. Permitting Navarrete to combat Foster means Suarez will get bypassed for a second consecutive unification.
At 38, Suarez additionally lacks the luxurious of time. A Navarrete-Foster combat in October, adopted by restoration and negotiations, may push his title shot nicely into 2027.
These are sturdy arguments for implementing the obligatory. The enterprise facet nonetheless favors Foster.
Foster brings better promotional worth to a combat with Navarrete, significantly with the U.S. viewers. He stays energetic on social media, offers frequent interviews, and has better visibility amongst American boxing followers.
Suarez presents little or no on the promotional facet. The Filipino contender is harmful within the ring, however Navarrete and the promoter must carry a lot of the promotion in a return bout.
There may be additionally critical aggressive threat in forcing Navarrete to face Suarez first.
Suarez gave Navarrete main issues of their first assembly. Ordering the obligatory bout doesn’t merely delay Foster. It threatens to get rid of the unification utterly.
If Suarez beats Navarrete, the three-belt conflict disappears. The WBO would implement its obligatory however lose the most important combat at the moment accessible within the division.
The sensible repair satisfies either side. The WBO can approve Navarrete in opposition to Foster whereas guaranteeing Suarez a shot on the winner. That doesn’t erase the frustration for Suarez, nevertheless it protects his title shot whereas permitting the division to stage the larger combat first.
Olivieri made it clear that the unification will obtain critical consideration.
“Unifications at all times represent a big component for consideration. We’ll see what the Committee resolves,” Olivieri acknowledged.
The Foster bout is focused for October 24 on the Alamodome in San Antonio. Giving it the inexperienced gentle permits the WBO to take part in a three-belt unification with out eradicating Suarez from the title image.
