American WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster will headline at the Madison Square Garden (Theater) in New York alongside fellow countryman Abraham Nova. The event, set to be promoted by Top Rank, will see Foster defend his world title for the second time following a close-knit stoppage win over Mexican contender Eduardo Hernandez on October 28th last year. February 16th has been confirmed to be the date upon which the two Americans will meet in the ring.
O’Shaquie Foster (21-2, 12 KO’s) will be facing an in-form opponent in Abraham Nova (23-1, 16 KO’s) who has been on a two-match winning streak since losing to Cuban former WBO champion Robeisy Ramirez (13-2, 8 KO’s) in 2022. Despite a rather prominent amateur career which saw Nova defeat the likes of current contenders Richardson Hitchins (17-0, 7 KO’s) and Jamaine Ortiz (17-1-1, 8 KO’s), Nova’s professional career has been devoid of marquee fights that would land him a shot at the top, most evident by the #12 spot he occupies on the WBC’s super featherweight/junior lightweight rankings.
Nova’s only notable fight thus far was against Ramirez where he suffered a fifth-round knockout loss, and the 30-year old American will be fighting in the first twelve-round bout of his career while simultaneously competing for a world title for the first time of his career.
Foster, also 30, will be aiming to recover from the aftermath of his fight with Eduardo Hernandez (34-2, 31 KO’s) last October which saw him losing on at least two judges’ scorecards. Despite the late stoppage win over Hernandez in the twelfth round, Foster will likely be looking to make a statement against Nova as he rears himself to defend his WBC 130 lbs title for the second time of his career. Their title bout has been set for the customary twelve rounds.
The match will see two super featherweights in their prime go up against each other with different stakes at play for them both; Nova will be relishing the opportunity to win a world title, while Foster is gearing himself to seal his credentials as a world champion in a bout that he will be favored to win.
The Top Rank-promoted fight card will further feature featherweight prospect Bruce Carrington (10-0, 6 KO’s) aim to prove he can be a genuine contender against Norwegian fighter Bernard Angelo Torres (18-1, 8 KO’s).
Puerto Rican super featherweight contender Bryan Chevalier (20-1-1, 16 KO’s) will also be fighting in the event to stake his claim for a crack at a world title as he is pitted against the undefeated American Andres Cortes (20-0, 11 KO’s).
