O’Shaquie Foster, also known as the king of the junior lightweight world in the WBC, just inked a deal with Top Rank for multiple fights. Yep, he’s that good.
Hailing from Orange, Texas, but honing his skills in Houston, Foster is set to strut his stuff on the Top Rank on ESPN stage in early 2024. Get ready, folks.
Bob Arum, the big boss at Top Rank, couldn’t hide his excitement. He said, ‘O’Shaquie Foster isn’t just any champ, he’s at the top of his game.’ He’s practically giddy about Foster defending his world title next.
As for Foster, he’s excited. Joining Top Rank and ESPN? That’s like a dream come true for him. He’s stoked to step into the ring under their banner, ready to prove he’s not just another fighter but the best in the world.
Keith Mills, Foster’s manager, chimed in with his two cents. ‘Shock Foster? He’s not just a world champ; he’s a force of nature in the ring.’ Teaming up with Top Rank and ESPN is a game-changer for him. Mills thinks it’s the perfect stage for Foster to show off his killer moves and become the star he’s meant to be.
Let’s roll back the tape on Foster’s career. After a stellar start with an 8-0 record, he hit a rough patch, losing two close fights in four outings. Then, he took a break for about a year and a half. But man, did he come back with a vengeance. With Mills and head trainer Bobby Benton by his side, Foster’s been unstoppable, racking up 11 straight wins. Remember that 2018 TV fight against Jon Fernandez? That’s when Foster really started turning heads.
Cut to February, and there’s Foster, the underdog, facing Rey Vargas for the empty WBC world title. Spoiler alert: he owned those championship rounds and snagged a unanimous decision win. Fast forward to last month in Cancun, Mexico. Foster’s first title defense was against Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez. That 11th round? Pure boxing gold. Foster had Hernandez seeing stars. Trailing on the scorecards, Foster pulled off a stunning comeback in the 12th, knocking Hernandez down twice and sealing the deal with just 22 seconds left on the clock.