O’Shaquie Foster Eyes Unification Fights at Junior Lightweight
WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie “Ice Water” Foster (20-2, 11 KO’s) fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a world champion when he defeated two-division champion Rey Vargas by a unanimous decision on February 11. While he is still basking in the glow of what he accomplished, it will not be long before Foster must contemplate and strategize what could be down the road.
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During the post-fight news conference, the boxing media asked Ice Water what he would like to do next. Foster’s response was simple. His window is open for whoever is available, and he has eyes on fighting the best in the division.
“We ready for anybody. I just talked to (Richard) Shaefer. He talked to Al (Haymon). They have big plans coming up. So, I’m ready to unify. I’m ready for the bigger names, the other belts. I’m ready to go and take them.”
Specifically, Foster said he’s interested in fighting either newly crowned WBO champ Emanuel Navarrete, WBA champion Hector Luis Garcia, or the winner of the upcoming April 22 contest between IBF champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and challenger Joe Cordina.
Of the fighters Foster mentioned, a fight with Garcia seems to be the easiest to make. His win over Vargas occurred on a PBC card and aired live on Showtime. Now, Foster may have to deal with some WBC mandatory in the immediacy. But the fact that talks with Al Haymon have already taken place means one would guess that a potential Foster-Garcia unification contest was discussed.
Foster took the non-traditional route to become a champion and has no intentions of going anywhere soon. Boxing fans are excited to hear that he is willing to put it on the line against the other big names in the division.
