Foster Drops Navarrete Twice in 12th to Unify Three Titles at 130 Pounds

O'Shaquie Foster beat Emanuel Navarrete by unanimous decision on Saturday night at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, unifying three major titles at 130 pounds. Foster entered as the WBC champion and added Navarrete's WBO and IBF belts. The judges scored the 12 round junior lightweight bout 118-108, 118-108 and 115-111 for Foster.

Foster, who improved to 26-3 with 12 knockouts, controlled the fight with sharp counter punches and well timed pressure. Navarrete fell to 40-3-1 with 33 knockouts. According to CompuBox figures reported after the bout, Foster outlanded Navarrete 157 to 99 in total punches, with a 114 to 70 edge in power punches. Navarrete landed just 18.8 percent of his punches and, per ESPN, did not land a single punch in the first round.

Two knockdowns in the final round

Foster's best work came in the 12th round, when he dropped Navarrete twice with counter right hands. Navarrete, chasing a knockout, lunged in and Foster caught him both times. Navarrete beat the count after each knockdown, but the round sealed a wide decision.

"I knew watching film he liked to lunge in, and I just pictured that overhand right landing," Foster said. "I felt I was breaking him down throughout the fight and countered real good in that last round."

Earlier, Foster hurt Navarrete with a counter left hook in the seventh round. Navarrete, known for an unorthodox and aggressive style, had his best rally in the 10th round and hurt Foster with a heavy punch late in the 11th, but Foster answered in the final round. Referee Mark Nelson worked to separate the fighters as Foster attacked with short, straight punches on the breaks.

"I told y'all before I felt like I was the better inside fighter and the better outside fighter. And I feel like I proved that tonight," Foster said in the ring afterwards. "Hats off to him, but I knew I was levels above him and I just wanted to prove it."

A career rebuilt, and one belt left

Foster first won the WBC title in 2023. He reclaimed it in a rematch with Robson Conceicao in November 2024, then defeated former unified champion Stephen Fulton in December. ESPN reported that Foster rebuilt his career after early professional setbacks to become one of the most technical fighters in the division.

The WBA title is now the only major belt at 130 pounds that Foster does not hold. WBA champion Anthony Cacace defends his title against Nick Ball on Dec. 19. Foster said Cacace's winner comes first, ahead of a bout he has long called for against Shakur Stevenson.

"Y'all know (Stevenson) is at the top of the list, but first I want to go undisputed," Foster said. "Build my name, do something nobody has done in the 130-pound division. Then I'll go up (in weight) and make my mark."

On the undercard in San Antonio, Albert Gonzalez knocked out Edward Vazquez in the second round, Frank Martin stopped Tarik Zaina by technical knockout in the seventh round, and Deric Davis beat Joaquin Silva Faccio by unanimous decision with scores of 80-72 on all three cards.