O’Shaquie Foster has firmly established himself as one of the premier names in the super-featherweight division over the past couple of years. After becoming the WBC champion by outpointing Rey Vargas for the vacant title in February 2023, Foster’s legacy was further solidified with a dramatic win over Eduardo ‘Rocky’ Hernandez in his first defense. Despite being behind on the scorecards, Foster stopped Hernandez in the final round of a thrilling fight, earning recognition for his gritty resilience and heart.
Foster’s reign continued with a successful defense against Abraham Nova before an unfortunate setback in 2024, when he lost a split-decision to Robson Conceicao in one of the most controversial decisions of the year. Many fans and analysts believed Foster had done enough to win almost every round of the fight. However, a redemption opportunity came swiftly, and Foster reclaimed the WBC super-featherweight title with another split-decision victory over Conceicao last month. This victory marked the conclusion of a grueling stretch of five demanding contests for the 31-year-old Texan.
Foster’s recent redemption has revived discussions about future potential matchups, especially following talks of a proposed WBC interim clash between Rocky Hernandez, currently ranked WBC #2, and Mark Magsayo, a former WBC featherweight champion, now ranked WBC #3. The proposed bout is expected to be for the WBC interim title, with both camps expressing their interest.
Filipino media figure Anthony Joaquin Arieta sparked the conversation on social media, and soon after, both teams began lobbying for the fight to be made. Hernandez’s manager Hector Fernandez de Cordova and Magsayo’s manager Sean Gibbons were seen applying pressure on the WBC to order the bout at their upcoming convention in Hamburg next month.
While Magsayo has a scheduled fight for December 14th in California, making his first appearance of 2024, the potential interim title clash could significantly shake up the super-featherweight division. With both fighters hungry for an opportunity to secure a shot at the title, the WBC interim bout would put the winner in a prime position to challenge Foster for the undisputed championship.
As Foster continues his ascent and redemption in the super-featherweight ranks, the looming WBC interim title battle could provide another defining moment in his career. Keep an eye on this rising division, as the coming months promise more thrilling action and high-stakes matchups.