O’SHAQUIE Foster will defend his WBC super-featherweight title against Robson Conceição at the Prudential Center tomorrow. This bout, against the former Olympic gold medallist, will be the co-feature to Shakur Stevenson’s fight with Artem Harutyunyan.
While fighters like Stevenson may handle these events with ease, for Foster, it has been a long journey to reach this position and now be considered for unification fights with 130-pound rivals.
“I just need to go in there and be me. That’s the biggest thing. I’m fully healthy. So, everyone is going to see a different fighter than what they saw the last time I came out,” said the 30-year-old Texan.
Foster is aiming for a better performance after his fight in February against Abraham Nova. He feels he didn’t showcase his best and wants to show improvement in his upcoming bout.
“I couldn’t do what I wanted in that fight against Abraham Nova. I couldn’t move my feet like I wanted. But, no excuses. I’m going to go out and show the world that I’m levels above this guy,” ‘Ice Water’ expressed before talking about his upcoming opponent, Conceição.
“I’ve had a long amateur career, so I’ve seen his style several times. We had great sparring partners that mimicked him. I’ve always been proud of my defense, so we’ll figure it out when we get in there.”
Before reaching this stage, Foster had to overcome personal challenges both in and out of the ring. His victory over Jon Fernandez in 2018 set him on the path to where he is now, as Fernandez acknowledges Foster’s potential.
While Foster has seen success, his opponent Conceição has faced setbacks in his career. However, he remains optimistic and determined for his upcoming fight.
“Things in my career weren’t necessarily easy. As an amateur, I had three opportunities to become a gold medalist. I see a similar path as a professional. And on Saturday, I’m going to be ready,” said Conceição.
“I don’t look at these challenges as pressure. I look at them as motivation. So, I’m motivated, and I’m looking forward to this fight on Saturday. I’ll be the new world champion. No pressure. Just motivation.”