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 !
