American WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster appears to be hitting his stride at just the right moment, as 2023 has marked a breakout year for him in the world of boxing. Foster faced Mexican contender Eduardo Hernandez on October 28th, securing a crucial victory with a technical knockout in the final round while successfully defending his WBC title for the first time. The super featherweight title bout took place at the Polifórum Benito Juárez in Cancun, Mexico.
O’Shaquie Foster (21-0, 12 KO’s) has enjoyed a highly successful year in 2023. In March, his victory over the previously undefeated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (20-1, 11 KO’s) went somewhat under the radar but hinted at a changing landscape within the super featherweight division. This transformation became more apparent when Foster defeated the unbeaten Rey Vargas (36-1, 22 KO’s) to become the WBC super featherweight champion. It’s worth noting that Rey Vargas is still the WBC world champion at featherweight.
However, it was Foster’s triumph over contender Eduardo Hernandez (34-2, 31 KO’s) that firmly established him as one of the best super featherweights on the planet. Fighting in Hernandez’s home country of Mexico, Foster faced one of the division’s most formidable punchers in Eduardo Hernandez, who has earned the nickname ‘Rocky’ due to his tenacity and power.
The twelve rounds of the contest nearly went the distance until O’Shaquie Foster stopped Hernandez in the twelfth and final round, securing a victory by technical knockout (TKO).
Although Foster’s victory was hard-fought, it was instrumental in defining him as a top-tier fighter in his own right. Foster faced challenges from Hernandez throughout the match, especially due to the Mexican’s pressure-based fighting style, which created numerous issues. Foster struggled with trading on the inside, and he was often compelled to maintain distance, further motivating Hernandez.
Hernandez adeptly dealt with Foster’s counters as he attempted to close the gap. While he didn’t succeed in every round, it was evident that his hooks, for the most part, discouraged Foster from engaging in close-quarters combat. Foster frequently found himself on the back foot, and it was during this time that he seemed to be most effective. As Hernandez tired, Foster took advantage by delivering well-timed counters and combinations. Surprisingly, Foster’s jabs didn’t prove as effective on the night, despite his four-inch reach advantage over Hernandez.
Foster narrowly won most of the rounds, but his victories were hard-fought. Hernandez’s performance couldn’t be discounted, as he displayed remarkable strength and resilience. It was a demanding battle, and both fighters delivered commendable performances. The eleventh round, in particular, proved to be one of the most captivating rounds of the year.
In the first minute of the eleventh round, Foster’s counters were highly effective, catching Hernandez as he lunged forward and causing him to stumble. Foster then capitalized on the opportunity, unleashing a flurry of combinations as Hernandez struggled to withstand the assault, wobbling but refusing to go down.
The last minute of the eleventh round saw Hernandez stage a remarkable comeback. As Foster found himself on the defensive, Hernandez seized the moment to rally, putting pressure on Foster. It was a round filled with action and drama.
The twelfth round tilted decisively in favor of O’Shaquie Foster. Early in the round, Foster scored a knockdown with a one-two combination. Foster then maintained the pressure, knocking Hernandez down for the second time within the first two minutes. For the final thirty seconds, Foster continued to press the attack, and Hernandez couldn’t mount a response. The referee had to intervene, awarding Foster the victory by TKO and allowing him to retain his WBC world super featherweight title for the first time in his career.
O’Shaquie Foster’s well-deserved victory has elevated him to the upper echelons of the super featherweight division, firmly establishing him as one of the top three fighters at 130 lbs, alongside WBO champion Emmanuel Navarrete (38-1, 31 KO’s) and IBF champion Joe Cordina (16-0, 9 KO’s). While both of these champions are set to compete in the coming months, a unification bout for Foster appears unlikely at this time. Hector Garcia (16-1, 10 KO’s), the WBA super featherweight champion, is the fourth champion in the division. However, his inactivity following his lightweight fight against Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KO’s) earlier this year leaves Foster with no choice but to continue facing contenders until one of the other champions becomes available.
As it stands, O’Shaquie Foster appears poised to become a pound-for-pound recognized fighter similar to the other two (active) world champions at 130 lbs. The only obstacle to their world recognition is a showdown among themselves. While there are doubts about the feasibility of these matchups, O’Shaquie Foster has taken a significant step toward establishing himself as a legitimate world champion and one of the best super featherweights in the world following his victory over Eduardo Hernandez.
