Navarrete is gone.
The mandatory isn't !
O'Shaquie "Ice Water" Foster (26-3, 12 KOs) put on a clinic in San Antonio on Saturday, dropping Emanuel "Vaquero" Navarrete (40-3-1, 33 KOs) twice in the 12th round on the way to a unanimous decision: 118-108, 118-108 and 115-111.
Foster's WBC belt now sits alongside Navarrete's WBO and IBF titles. Three of the four at 130 lb.
Fair play to him. Compubox had Foster outlanding the Mexican 157 to 99.
But there's a little history here.
In May 2025 in San Diego, Charly "King's Warrior" Suarez fought Navarrete for the WBO title. It was first scored a technical decision for Navarrete — then the California commission reviewed it and changed it to a No Contest.
The WBO ordered a rematch.
Navarrete got a unification instead. Then he asked for ANOTHER one — and the WBO said yes, on one condition. The winner of Navarrete v Foster must defend against Suarez within 180 days. One intervening fight only. No voluntary defences, no more unifications.
So Charly waited. Again.
Now the WBO belt belongs to Foster — and so does the obligation.
And what's the new champ talking about ? The WBA belt (Anthony Cacace meets Nick Ball in Belfast in December) and Shakur Stevenson.
"Stevenson is at the top of the list, but first I want to go for undisputed," Foster said.
Hmm.
"I just wish that he doesn't break his promise and the WBO also follows the mandate," Suarez told the Daily Tribune.
Suarez is 19-0 (11 KOs), the WBO's No. 1, and he turns 39 next year. His last fight, in July, lasted two minutes and 31 seconds.
Vietnam knows him too — he won the IBF Asia title at The Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vung Tau back in December 2022.
The WBO has said it. Now it has to mean it.
On paper, it's April 2027.
Can Foster's ice water cool down the King's Warrior, or will Suarez finally get his hands on the belt he went to San Diego for ?
🇺🇸 O'SHAQUIE FOSTER (26-3) v CHARLY SUAREZ (19-0) 🇵🇭
🏆 WBO super featherweight title (mandatory, ordered by the WBO)
📅 Due within 180 days of 24 October — by April 2027
📍 To be confirmed
Stay tuned !
Bacolod's Genesis Servania will fight China's rising star Aketelieti Yelejian for the WBO Asia Lightweight title this November.
The highly-anticipated match up will take place on the undercard of the IBF world title fight between Pedro Taduran and Zhu DianXing at Jeju Island, South Korea.
Aketelieti Yelejian, who suffered a narrow loss to the Prince Albert Pagara in June, rebounded with an impressive IBF Asia victory against Korean Jin Su Kim in Vietnam recently. He is a very rangy and deceptive boxer known for his relaxed combinations, and he's supremely confident in his ability to take down Servania and claim the title.
"I've studied Servania's style, and I know I have the skills to outmaneuver him," Yelejian said yesterday.
"I'm excited to represent China on the international stage once more, and bring home an impressive win against a top and proven boxer like Genesis."
Servania, a seasoned veteran with a 35-4 record, boasts a reputation for toughness that has come from battles at the top level. And has still possesses some of the best body shots in the sport of boxing.
This important title shot gives the filipino the opportunity to re-establish himself on the world scene once more, and it's best remembered that his only defeats have came against world-ranked champions like Oscar Valdez and Andres Cortes.
But the China team have already confidently stated that Yelejian's youth, speed, height, and reach may all prove too much for the Filipino boxer.
Their optimism also exudes for the world title bout, where surprisingly, they are quite dismissive of Pedro Taduran's hopes of beating star Zhu DianXing. They actually rate their boxer so highly, they have predicted that the champion has no chance of retaining the belt.
These claims set up an intriguing backdrop for two massive Philippines v China feature bouts.
Fight Details :
- Date: Saturday, November 23rd
- Location: Jeju Island, South Korea
- Title: WBO Asia Lightweight
- Contenders: Aketelieti Yelejian (China) vs. Genesis Servania (Philippines)
