O’Shaquie Foster’s life and boxing profession has been underpinned by resilience.
Simply over six years in the past, “Shock” was banged up in his hometown of Orange, Texas, seemingly destined for a life spent wanting over his shoulder. While serving 4 months in a correctional facility, Hurricane Harvey ripped via his group leaving little or no for him to return to. However out of this darkness got here a spark of defiance.
Alongside his inmates, surrounding a modestly sized tv, Foster witnessed Terence Crawford beat Julius Indongo for the undisputed light-welterweight crown and, from that second, was adamant he was going to attain his personal greatness within the sport of boxing.
“It hit me there after which — I wasn’t going to let just a few dangerous selections waste my potential,” he explains from inside his fitness center in Houston. “I used to be so near ruining my life past restore, so I knew that I used to be going to should make adjustments.”
And that he did. Sitting on a 10-2 (7 KO) file, Foster packed up his baggage and moved 100 miles to Houston the place he started constructing the foundations for a greater future. Bobby Benton took the reins as his head coach and so started a profitable streak of 10 fights that took the now 30-year-old to his maiden world title within the 130 lb division.
Saturday night time towards Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez (34-1, 31 KO) in Cancun, Mexico, marks his first world title defence and as soon as once more underlines Foster’s willingness to do issues the laborious approach.
“I’ve been protecting my eye on Rocky [Hernandez] for some time now, considering that this struggle would finally come my approach,” he continued. “We’ve each been underneath the identical promotion earlier than and it’s a struggle that has at all times me.
“Travelling to Mexico doesn’t part me within the slightest. I’m used to being the underdog all through my profession and coming in because the away fighter. I’ve fought in Costa Rica and Dubai in my final 5 fights, so this isn’t something totally different for me to fret about.
“We’re anticipating the everyday come-forward Mexican fashion on Saturday from Hernandez. He’s powerful, can hit laborious and has a superb left hook. However I consider that at this second in time I’m among the finest defensive fighters on the planet — and I proved that in beating [Rey] Vargas comfortably — so if we get issues proper, I ought to be capable to take care of no matter he throws my approach.”
Foster prides himself on evasiveness contained in the ring. Unsurprisingly, he grew up idolising Floyd Mayweather Jr and on the age of 14 spent a 12 months alongside Roger Mayweather and his son coaching underneath the Las Vegas lights. With this, albeit transient education underneath his belt, “Shock” believes that the sky is the restrict within the struggle sport and is adamant that he’ll proceed to maintain all doorways open.
“I didn’t get into boxing to succeed in that ‘cash-out’ second,” he explains. “I’m within the sport for the lengthy haul and wish to keep lively, preventing 3 times a 12 months if doable. I do know I’m adequate to maintain preventing and hold profitable, so why not take a look at myself?”
“I’d like to go as much as 140 lbs finally, and probably even 147 like Floyd, constructing a legacy as I’m going, however there are nonetheless large fights for me at super-featherweight over the subsequent couple of years.”
“Joe Cordina is in fact a struggle that I would like. If I’m being trustworthy, it has gotten private now between us. If he desires to make use of phrases like ‘bitch’ when he’s speaking about me and name my supervisor a ‘bum’ then he’s going to have to simply accept the results once we come face-to-face.”
Cordina (16-0, 9 KO) holds the IBF model of the super-featherweight title and has exchanged social media messages with Foster on a variety of events relating to a doable unification. Foster’s supervisor, Keith Mills, confirmed that “whereas we agreed phrases with Matchroom in precept, no contract was ever acquired.”
“I simply don’t assume Cordina wished to struggle us at the moment,” Foster added. “He claims that we priced ourselves out of the struggle, or didn’t wish to journey to the UK, however that’s loopy! The reality will get masked when everybody simply begins shouting on social media.
“On the finish of the day, it’s a simple struggle to make — there aren’t any roadblocks on my facet. I’m a free agent nonetheless and haven’t any issues coming to the UK in 2024. And mark my phrases, I’m going to knock him out.”
The pair of world champions struggle inside every week of one another with Cordina heading to Monte Carlo to defend his title towards Edward Vazquez on November 4. Will Foster be watching?
“In fact. He hasn’t impressed me a lot not too long ago and I believe he’s going to have a tricky night time towards Vazquez; now we have sparred earlier than and he’s a strong man. However none of this issues except I get previous Hernandez on Saturday.
“Count on whole domination on Saturday,” he concludes. “I’m out to point out that on the subject of talent and all-round expertise, I’m one of many prime guys within the sport. After which, Cordina, I’m coming!”
