Foster Defeats Three-Division Titlist Navarrete in Two-Knockdown Decision

O’Shaquie Foster defeated three-division titlist Emanuel Navarrete via a two-knockdown unanimous decision on Saturday. Vasiliy Lomachenko, who has a record of 18-3 with 12 KOs, was ringside for the Foster-Navarrete fight and is intrigued by the possibility of returning against Charly Suarez, who has a record of 19-0 with 11 KOs.

An individual connected to the plans said a Lomachenko-Suarez bout in February would free O’Shaquie Foster to await the winner of the December 19 WBA junior lightweight title fight between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball.

Foster now holds three belts at 130lbs following his victory over Navarrete. Foster, who has a record of 26-3 with 12 KOs, said after the fight that “he believed he would be obligated to face WBO mandatory challenger Charly Suarez of the Philippines.”

A five-fighter race is on to crown the division’s latest undisputed champion, led by Foster and Lomachenko.

The winner of a potential Lomachenko-Suarez bout would be first in line to challenge the new undisputed champion.

Lomachenko’s attempt to claim all four lightweight belts was thwarted by a unanimous-decision loss to Devin Haney in 2023. Lomachenko lost to Haney with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 115-113 in Las Vegas.

Lomachenko retired following a May 2024 stoppage victory over George Kambosos Jnr in Australia.

Lomachenko went 5-0 with five knockouts during his stint at junior lightweight in 2016-17. During that run, he forced four consecutive opponents to retire on their stools, including Guillermo Rigondeaux.

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