O’Shaquie Foster desires to complete gathering the belts at 130 kilos earlier than preventing Shakur Stevenson. After beating Emanuel Navarrete on Saturday evening, Foster has one title left to chase earlier than finishing that purpose.
The newly unified junior light-weight champion made his plans clear in feedback shared by The Ring.
“I wish to go undisputed… fulfill my largest dream, then I’ll go see Shakur.”
That places a Stevenson struggle behind Foster’s pursuit of the WBA title. He isn’t dismissing the matchup, however he has given himself a motive to remain at junior light-weight somewhat than instantly comply with Shakur to the next division.
Foster earned that selection towards Navarrete. He dropped the Mexican twice within the closing spherical and gained a unanimous determination, including the IBF and WBO titles to his WBC belt whereas additionally claiming the vacant Ring championship. The struggle came about October 24 in San Antonio.
The efficiency additionally gave a future Stevenson struggle extra substance. Foster would deliver the abilities that allowed him to select aside Navarrete, together with three sanctioning physique titles and an opportunity so as to add the fourth earlier than transferring on.
There’s a sensible challenge, although. Foster is constructing his championship assortment at 130, whereas Shakur holds the WBO title at mild welterweight. They’d nonetheless have to agree on a weight. Curiosity from each fighters would solely be the start of these negotiations.
Foster’s reply additionally avoids letting the Stevenson dialogue swallow his personal achievement. He has simply overwhelmed the opposite main champion in his division. Instantly transferring up would go away his largest said purpose unfinished.
The danger is time. One other unification takes negotiations, and Shakur’s personal plans might change whereas Foster pursues the remaining belt. There isn’t a assure the struggle might be accessible on the identical phrases later.
For now, Foster has set the order: undisputed first, then Shakur. After the Navarrete efficiency, that may be a plan price letting him pursue.
