Stephen Fulton has O’Shaquie Foster’s undivided attention, though the latter can’t help but think about where a win this weekend will take him in the year ahead.
The two-time and current WBC 130lbs titlist is set to defend his crown against Philadelphia’s Fulton, 23-1 (8 KOs), a two-division titlist who moves up in weight for the occasion. Their anticipated showdown serves as part of a four-fight PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view event this Saturday from Frost Bank Center, home to the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs.
Foster, 23-3 (12 KOs) – who hails from the greater Houston area, roughly 4 ½ hours away - will attempt the first defense of his second title reign. He is one of four major titleholders in a division who lacks a definitive champion at the top.
“I think 130 is shaping up but we need a leader,” Foster told BoxingScene. “I’m trying to be that leader, but these guys need to come unify with me. Stop hiding them belts.
“Someone needs to step up and come see me. I’m trying to turn up and become undisputed before we go on to [lightweight].”
Ironically, one of the other 130lbs titleholders headlines Saturday’s show. Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs) has held the WBA belt for more than two years but has made just one defense, which came last June. His only fight since then was in a high-profile, majority draw with WBA 135lbs titlist Gervonta “Tank” Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs) on March 1 in Brooklyn, New York.
Roach now fights for a second straight time away from 130, as he challenges for the WBC interim 140lbs belt held by Mexico City’s Cruz, 28-3-1 (18 KOs). Regardless of how the bout turns out, it’s doubtful that Roach will ever again defend his WBA 130lbs title – and therefore, not necessarily a target of Foster’s.
“I mean, I’ll never say “No” to the right opportunity,” Foster noted. “But I don’t think he’s coming back to 130 anyway. I think he’s just holding that belt just so he can walk into the ring with it and say he still the champion.
“But he done fought Tank, was gonna fight him again and now he’s moving up to fight Pitbull. I really don’t think he’s coming back to 130 if he’s making them kind of moves.”
That would narrow Foster’s search to two. That search could whittle down to one, provided there is a winner in the terrific IBF/WBO unification bout between Eduardo “Sugar” Nuñez and Emanuel Navarrete next February 28 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Everything starts with a win on Saturday. Knowing that such an opportunity lies ahead, though, only adds to the motivation that already comes with topping a well-credentialed fighter such as Fulton.
“We didn’t get where we are by looking past nobody,” Foster noted. “We got this business to handle [on Saturday]. When we win, yeah the winner of that [Nuñez-Navarrete] can definitely come see me.”
Foster, 32, has spent the lion’s share of his career campaigning at 130lbs. He stuck around long enough to first claim the WBC junior lightweight title in a February 2023 win over then-unbeaten Rey Vargas at Alamodome, also in San Antonio.
Just two defenses followed before a controversial, split decision defeat to Robson Conceicao last July 2 in Newark, New Jersey. Foster got his lick back in their rematch last November 2 but has been out of the ring since then.
His planned showdown with Fulton has carried no fewer than three fight dates. It was originally due to land on the August 16 undercard to the targeted Davis-Roach rematch, but the event as a whole was scrubbed when Davis decided he no longer wanted to proceed with the bout.
Foster-Fulton was then slated as the co-feature to an October 25 PBC on Prime PPV event in Las Vegas. That event was also canceled after Sebastian Fundora suffered an injury which forced him out of a planned WBC 154lbs title defense against Keith Thurman.
Foster and Fulton then both agreed to settle their differences on this weekend’s card, for the sake of resuming their respective careers. Still, losing a year of his remaining prime years shortens the window for the goals he set out for himself at the weight.
“As far as staying at 130, it’s all about the opportunity,” noted Foster. “If something pops up at 135, we’ll move up and make it happen. We’re not in a rush to move up but I just want to keep my career going after this. We did what we needed to but it’s time to get these other belts.
