WBC junior lightweight champion O’Shaquie Foster makes his Top Rank debut this Friday (February 16) against Abraham Nova at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater. Coming off a Round of the Year (11th) and sensational late stoppage of Eduardo Hernandez in hostile territory last October, Foster is primed in 2024 to solidify his credentials as one of boxing’s best and most active champions.
Foster sat down with BeatsBoxingMayhem to discuss why he left Matchroom Boxing for Top Rank, his toughest moments as a professional and more.
Did the biased scorecards for Eduardo Hernandez make you more determined to always go for the stoppage?
No, because I’ve done it plenty of times, but those circumstances were different. You just can’t trust those kind of people. Eddie [Hearn] and them [Matchroom Boxing] had it all their way. I was a free agent and that was their guy (Hernandez), he was signed to them. The politics will always be there but I’m not tripping about it. I’ve got Top Rank backing me now.
How did Top Rank earn your trust over other promoter options?
It was their approach. They had a plan and one of the biggest things is me wanting to stay active. That was something they had no issues with.
And fighting on ESPN — things like that all played a part. Everybody ain’t go the apps — back home everyone has cable so everyone can watch. It was a whole bunch of things in one that got me over to Top Rank.
Watch the full full interview below. Foster vs. Nova airs live on ESPN February 16 at 9 p.m. ET.
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