O’Shaquie Foster Wants to Control ‘Weight Bully’ Emanuel Navarrete

Talking to The Ring Magazine, Foster remained confident as he revealed that Navarrete would have a hard time alarming him, regardless of what he throws at him.

“I don’t see none of that giving me problems. I’ve seen that style, I’ve seen the awkward punches. The rangy awkward punches, I’m rangy myself so I just think he get away with, when he stepped up to Suarez, Suarez was a natural 130 pounder. Conceicao was another natural 130 pounder. Berinchyk was 135, and all three of these guys gave him the most problems,” he said. “I think Navarrete has done a great job of weight bullying these guys and once he steps up to people his size, we’ve seen a difference.”

Navarrete, a former champion at 122 and 126 pounds, has built a reputation around relentless pressure, awkward punching angles, high punch volume, and considerable power, attributes that Foster believes have been particularly effective against smaller opponents. However, the American WBC champion insists that Navarrete will encounter a different challenge against him.

To counter his opponent’s physicality, Foster plans to rely on intelligent distance management, sharp counterpunching and his own speed and power rather than being drawn into a reckless slugfest. He has stressed that boxing is about controlling the fight, not simply going to war.

“If you look at any of my fights, I don’t run from nobody. I control the distance, I control the fight and I put punishment to them. So come fight night we’re going to have to see,” he said. “I’m not the guys he’s been weight bullying. He has not seen the power or the speed that I possess and he gonna realize that fight night.”

“I’m Tired of Mentioning His Name”

But what if he demolishes Navarrete? Foster has a name in mind, one that he is apparently tired of calling out.

“I’m tired of mentioning his name, but Shakur [Stevenson]. Everybody know that if I can fight anybody, that’s who I would put my hands on. But I need to make it known to everybody that I don’t really care, like I’m not chasing dude or none of that but he a big opp on my hit list and that ain’t going to change,” he said.