By: Sean Crose
O’Shaquie Foster had a title to defend on Saturday night time in Houston, the WBC junior light-weight title. Foster could not have been checked out as one of many sport’s shining stars, however he nonetheless was considered a top quality fighter who knew the best way to ship. Raymond Ford, Foster’s opponent, additionally knew the best way to ship. He was hungry, very hungry. He had beforehand been the WBA featherweight champion, in spite of everything. And he wished as soon as once more to have a world title belt in his possession. Foster’s job in fact was to maintain simply that from occurring. It was, on the very least, an fascinating pairing.
Apart from Foster actually throwing his man out of the ring within the first spherical, it was a refined, sharp battle of wits and talent through the first half of the scheduled 12 spherical affair. Positive sufficient, it was a troublesome battle to attain, as every man did some good work. It wasn’t a slug fest. It was fascinating, nevertheless. Right here have been two decided, nice tuned fighters with lots on the road. There was no room for error, one thing every man was keenly conscious of; which might be why neither let all of it hand around in the primary six rounds.
The second half of the battle ended up belonging to Foster who merely outlasted his man. Ford did his greatest and he did very, very nicely for himself but it surely wasn’t sufficient. As they are saying, while you’re preventing the champ, it’s a must to take it from the champ, and Ford wasn’t in a position to take the battle from Foster regardless of doing very nicely for himself. All in all it was an fascinating battle. Not a terrific battle however an fascinating battle with two high-skilled people wanting razor sharp if not precisely explosive. Suffice to say the judges gave a majority choice win to Foster.
Instantly after the scores have been learn, Foster squared off within the ring for a verbal backwards and forwards with Shakur Stevenson, who he would clearly like to battle. One needed to admire Foster’s confidence, for Stevenson would possible be a prohibitive favourite if the 2 males truly agreed to battle. The night time belonged to the hometown, favourite Foster nevertheless. He fought exhausting and he earned it. “I began off slightly rusty,” he stated within the put up battle interview. “I knew I used to be going to begin choosing him aside.”
And as for the longer term? “Y’all know who I need,” he stated. Certainly we do. However with all of the choices doubtlessly on the market for Stevenson, does he actually have any curiosity in squaring off with Foster? What’s extra, a Foster battle with Emmanuel Navarette would result in a unified titlist within the junior light-weight division. Regardless, Foster has proven that he himself now has appreciable choices to concentrate on. That’s what occurs when a titlist wins in opposition to stable competitors the best way Foster received in opposition to Ford this night in Texas. Strong wins can result in massive fights, and Foster is definitely on the lookout for massive fights.
Tonight was a main instance of what occurs when one fighter merely has extra within the tank than one other. Ford did very nicely for himself whereas he had the vitality to carry out successfully. He nonetheless carried out successfully as soon as his vitality started to depart him, however he didn’t carry out nicely sufficient to win the junior light-weight title off of Foster. With that being stated, Ford nonetheless has his profession forward of him. He’s been a world titlist earlier than and he could will find yourself a world titlist once more. For now although, the WBC junior light-weight title stays safe in Foster’s possession.
