WBC Super Featherweight Championship
O’Shaquie Foster vs Emanuel Navarrete
Frost Bank Center
San Antonio, Texas, USA
October 24th, 2026
International: DAZN
Top Rank Boxing Presents
O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
EMANUEL NAVARRETE
Nationality: USA
Nationality: Mexico
Date of Birth: Sept. 17th, 1993.
Date of Birth: January 17th, 1995.
Birthplace: Orange, Texas, USA
Birthplace: San Juan Zitlaltepec, Edo. Mex., Mexico.
Residence: Houston, Texas, USA
Residence: San Juan Zitlaltepec, Edo. Mex., Mexico.
Age: 33
Age: 31
Alias: Ice Water
Alias: Vaquero
Record: 24-3; 12 KO´s
Record:40-2-1; 33 KO´s
KO Ratio: 48 %
KO Ratio: 82.5 %
Stance: Orthodox
Stance: Orthodox
Rounds: 194
Rounds: 265
World title fights: 7 (6-1; 1 KO)
World title fights: 16 (14-1-1; 10 KO’s)
Manager: Keith Mills
Manager: Alejandro Brito
Promoter: Top Rank Boxing
Promoter: Top Rank Boxing
Trainer: Bobby Benton
Trainer: Pedro Navarrete
Major Achievements
WBC Champion
O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
2x WBC Super Featherweight.
WBC Interim Lightweight. 2025
WBC Super Featherweight. 2024 –
WBC Silver Super Featherweight. 2018
EMANUEL NAVARRETE
Unified Super Featherweight Champion. 2024 –
Featherweight Champion.
2020 – 2022
Super Bantamweight Champion.
2018 – 2020
Memorable Super Featherweight Fights
Alexis Argüello vs. Alfredo Escalera I (Jan. 28, 1978)
Known as «The Bloody Battle of Bayamón.» It was a brutal war in which Argüello challenged the Puerto Rican champion in one of the most famous displays of endurance and punishment in boxing history. Both men suffered horrific cuts, turning the ring into a theater of pure grit. Argüello won via TKO in round 13 to capture the WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Julio César Chávez vs. Mario «Azabache» Martínez (Sep. 13, 1984)
The historic night an icon arrived on the world stage. Held at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, this bout was for the vacant WBC Super Featherweight title. The undefeated Chávez faced the favored Martínez in a relentless, high-paced battle of attrition that featured incredible inside fighting and a surgical body attack. Chávez won via TKO in round 8 to secure his first world championship.
Julio César Chávez vs. Azumah Nelson (May 19, 1990)
A clash of two legends. Chávez, at the peak of his career, faced «The Professor» Nelson in a high-level tactical bout that solidified the Mexican icon as the best pound-for-pound fighter of his time. Chávez won via Majority Decision (115-113, 115-113, 114-114) to retain the WBC Super Light title (fought at 140, but iconic in their 130-lb legacy).
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Genaro «Chicanito» Hernández (Oct. 3, 1998)
The fight that introduced «Pretty Boy» to the world stage. Mayweather challenged the respected, long-reigning champion Hernández, dominating the action with speed, defensive reflexes, and sharp precision. It was the performance that proved Mayweather was a generational talent. Mayweather won via TKO after Hernández’s corner stopped the fight following round 8, capturing the WBC title.
Arturo Gatti vs. Micky Ward III (Jun. 7, 2003)
The culmination of the most exciting trilogy in modern history. Their showdown at Boardwalk Hall was an absolute display of heart, blood, and sheer willpower, with both fighters trading devastating power shots until the final seconds. Gatti won via Unanimous Decision (96-93, 96-93, 97-92) in a non-title 10-round war.
Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Erik Morales III (Nov. 27, 2004)
The spectacular final chapter of their legendary trilogy took place at 130 pounds. After two historic wars, they moved up to Super Featherweight to settle the score, delivering another 12 rounds of non-stop, bitter rivalry and intense exchanges. Barrera won via Majority Decision.
Juan Manuel Márquez vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mar. 17, 2007)
A brilliant clash of elite Mexican counter-punching warriors. Barrera attempted to defend his title against Márquez in a highly technical, fiery battle. Márquez won via Unanimous Decision.
Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez II (Mar. 15, 2008)
«The Unfinished Business,» this legendary rematch at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas was a razor-thin, high-speed chess match mixed with fierce exchanges. The defining moment of the entire technical battle came when Pacquiao landed a hard left hook that sent Márquez to the canvas in the 3rd round. Pacquiao won via Split Decision.
Francisco Vargas vs. Takashi Miura (Nov. 21, 2015)
WBC 2015 «Fight of the Year.» Vargas rose from the canvas and was on the brink of a technical knockout loss, battling through a completely closed right eye before launching a dramatic, heroic counter-attack against the outstanding Japanese champion. Vargas won via TKO in round 9 to capture the WBC Super Featherweight Title.
Miguel Berchelt vs. Francisco Vargas I (Jan. 28, 2017)
Berchelt challenged the champion Vargas in a grueling, physical encounter. The fight combined suffocating pressure with surgical precision from Berchelt against a Vargas who, though remarkably brave, had to weather an immense volume of heavy punches. Berchelt won via TKO in round 11 to claim the WBC belt.
Oscar Valdez vs. Miguel Berchelt (Feb. 20, 2021)
An absolute masterclass in tactical discipline and power, one of the most remembered COVID pandemic fights. Berchelt entered as a dominant, long-reigning champion, but Valdez put on the performance of his life. Utilizing flawless lateral movement, sharp counter-punching, and a lethal left hook, Valdez systematically broke down the favorite. Valdez won via KO in round 10 to capture the WBC Super Featherweight belt.
O’Shaquie Foster vs. Eduardo «Rocky» Hernández (Oct. 28, 2023)
A dramatic classic in Cancún. Foster was executing a slick, technical defensive game plan, but Mexico’s Hernández applied relentless, suffocating pressure, hurting the champion severely in some moments. After the WBC’s open scoring round 8 announcement Foster modified his game plan to win via TKO in round 12.
WBC Super Featherweight Top Ten Champions
Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico)
Gabriel Elorde (Phil)
Floyd Mayweather (USA)
Erik Morales (Mexico)
Alexis Argüello (Nicaragua)
Takashi Miura (Japan)
Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
Marco A. Barrera (Mexico)
Hector Camacho (P.Rico)
James Leija (USA)
General Information
Gabriel Elorde holds the absolute record for the single longest continuous reign in the division’s history. He held the crown for 4 years.
Azumah Nelson, across his two separate reigns, held the WBC title for a combined total of 8 years.
Only 4 fighters in history managed to lose the 130 lbs. title and successfully win it back: Yoshiaki Numata, Rafael Limon, Azumah Nelson, and O’Shaquie Foster.
Mexico commands the WBC Super Featherweight list with 17, followed by the USA with 7 and Japan with 5.
38 world champions have been recognized by the WBC.
147 super featherweight world championship fights have been held in WBC history.
January 17 stands out as a unique date in boxing history, marking the birthday of four multi-division and heavyweight world champions across different eras: Muhammad Ali (1942), Marco Antonio Barrera (1974), Oleksandr Usyk (1987), and Emanuel «Vaquero» Navarrete (1995).
Memorable USA VS Mexico Fights
Sep 13, 1977. Danny Lopez vs. Jose Torres – WBC Featherweight
Feb 02, 1980. Salvador Sanchez vs. Danny Lopez. – WBC Featherweight
Dec 11, 1982. Bobby Chacon vs. Rafael Limon – WBC Super Featherweight
Aug 20, 1989. Pernell Whitaker vs. Jose Luis Ramirez – WBC Lightweight
Mar 17, 1990. Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Meldrick Taylor – WBC Super Lightweight
Feb 20, 1993. Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Greg Haugen – WBC Super Lightweight
Mar 13, 1993. Michael Carbajal vs. Humberto Gonzalez – WBC Light Flyweight
Jan 29, 1994. Frankie Randall vs. Julio Cesar Chavez – WBC Super Lightweight
Feb 19, 1994. Humberto Gonzalez vs. Michael Carbajal – WBC Light Flyweight
Jun 07, 1996. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Julio Cesar Chavez – WBC Super Lightweight
Sep 12, 1998. Erik Morales vs. Junior Jones – WBC Super Bantamweight
Jun 17, 2000. Jose Luis Castillo vs. Steve Johnston – WBC Lightweight
Mar 24, 2012. Danny Garcia vs. Erik Morales – WBC Super Lightweight
Sep 14, 2013. Floyd Mayweather vs. Saul Alvarez – WBC Super Welterweight
Nov 06, 2021. Saul Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant – WBC Super Middleweight
Feb 05, 2022. Jesse Rodriguez vs. Carlos Cuadras – WBC Super Flyweight
Apr 30, 2022. Shakur Stevenson vs. Oscar Valdez – WBC Super Featherweight
Nov 26, 2022. Regis Prograis vs. Jose Zepeda – WBC Super Lightweight
Jun 29, 2024. Jesse Rodriguez vs. Juan Francisco Estrada – WBC Super Flyweight
Sep 13, 2025. Saul Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford – WBC Super Middleweight
WBC Super Featherweight Champions
Name
Championship Period
1.- Gabriel Elorde (Philippines)
1963 – 1967
2.- Yoshiaki Numata (Japan)
1967
3.- Hiroshi Kobayashi (Japan)
1967 – 1968
4.- Rene Barrientos (Philippines)
1969 – 1970
5.- Yoshiaki Numata (Japan)*
1970 – 1971
6.- Ricardo Arredondo (Mexico)
1971 – 1974
7.- Kuniaki Shibata (Japan)
1974 – 1975
8.- Alfredo Escalera (P.Rico)
1975 – 1978
9.- Alexis Argüello (Nicaragua)
1978 -1980
10.- Rafael Limón (Mexico)
1980 – 1981
11.- Cornelius Boza Edwards (Uganda)
1981
12.- Rolando Navarrete (Philippines)
1981 – 1982
13.- Rafael Limón (Mexico)*
1982
14.- Bobby Chacon (USA)
1982 – 1983
15.- Hector Camacho (P. Rico)
1983
16.- Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico)
1984 – 1987
17.- Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
1988 – 1994
18.- James Leija (USA)
1994
19.- Gabriel Ruelas (Mexico)
1994 – 1995
20.- Azumah Nelson (Ghana)*
1995 – 1997
21.- Genaro Herjandez (USA)
1997 – 1998
22.- Floyd Mayweather (USA)
1998 – 2001
23.- Sirimongkol Singmanassuk (Thailand)
2002 – 2003
24.- Jesus Chavez (Mexico)
2003 – 2004
25.- Erik Morales (Mexico)
2004
26.- Marco A. Barrera (Mexico)
2004 – 2007
27.- Juan Manuel Marquez (Mexico)
2007 – 2008
28.- Manny Pacquiao (Philippines)
2008
29.- Humberto Soto (Mexico)
2008 – 2009
30.- Humberto Mauro Gutierrez (Mexico) Interim
2009
31.- Vitaliy Tajbert (Germany)
2009 – 2010
33.- Gamaliel Diaz (Mexico)
2012 – 2013
34.- Takashi Miura (Japan)
2013 – 2015
35.- Francisco Vargas (Mexico)
2015 – 2017
36.- Migue Berchelt (Mexico)
2017 – 2021
37.- Oscar Valdez (Mexico)
2021 – 2022
38.- Shakur Stevenson (USA)
2022
39.- O´Shaquie Foster (USA)
2023 – 2024
40.- Robson Conceicao (Brazil)
2024
41.- O´Shaquie Foster (USA)*
2024 –
42.- Ryan Garner (UK) Interim
2026
* Regained
Ice Water Foster and Vaquero Navarrete Champing at the bit
By James Blears
When two Champions fight, it`s a monumental clash of willpower, heart and destiny, where Sheer Greatness meets its ultimate test.
And so it comes to pass, that WBC super-featherweight Champion O`Shaquie ‘’Ice Water’’ running through his veins, fights WBO and IBF Champion Emanuel ‘’Vaquero’’ Navarette, on Saturday October 24th at Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, Texas. Emanuel is a three- division champion, at super-bantamweight, featherweight and super-featherweight. He almost, but not quite won the lightweight crown. While O`Shaquie is a two-times World Boxing Council super-featherweight champion.
Neither is given to trash or rash talk. But there have been exchanges of pertinent well directed words, which give some indications of intense intentions, with appropriate actions matching those sentences to follow. Emanuel stresses it takes two to make a fight and hopes the best vs the best can be decided in a fight containing plenty of exchanges. He would say this, because he`s a high volume, pressure fighter who thrives in the atmosphere of a firefight. O`Shaquie has countered by insisting he`s not going to run and will pick apart Emanuel. Respect from Emanuel who doffs his ten- gallon hat and acknowledges; ‘’O`Shaquie is a great champion. Very solid, very confident and it`ll be a great fight. However, he hasn`t fought someone like me. I`m going to pressure him from the start, and cut off the ring, with constant body punches to break down and break up his rhythm. We will see, as the fight progresses. I`m coming with all I`ve got. And I`m glad O`Shaquie has accepted this fight, because I want another world title.’’
Utterly unfazed, underwhelmed or undaunted, O`Shaquie, who`s known for smilingly keeping his cool, evenly replies: ‘’This is the type of fight you dream about and I`m ready. I`m excited to be back in San Antonio in front of my fans. I`m looking forward to giving everyone a performance to remember. This is the biggest fight of my career. He`s going to feel my punching power, my speed and my ring IQ. No running.’’ The plan of course and over the course of this fight, is to give Emanuel a comprehensive boxing lesson, to deflect, parry and confound all of those unconventional angles and get straight to the point. O`Shaquie isn`t an easy target, his defence is sound and he can dish it out too. His title defence against Eduardo ‘’Rocky’’ Hernandez in sun-kissed Cancun, proved this. Iron willpower, backed up with precise clout. Behind on the scorecards, O`Shaquie weathered the storm and came on strong in its late stages. Clock measured against the clock. Ferocious exchanges in round eleven, but Rocky looking dicey towards the bell. Begged by his corner, to stick and move, Rocky bravely but unwisely to decided to get stuck in and it cost him the Green and Gold belt. O`Shaquie, cool as a cucumber amidst all of the din, pounced in the final round dropping the valiant Mexican twice and pulling the TKO victory from the embers.
The fact O`Shaquie is fighting a man who is a triple division champion is a double- edged sword. Before he was a super-featherweight champion, Emanuel reigned as a super-bantamweight and a featherweight champion, almost winning a lightweight title. Emanuel has grown into his current and ideal weight category, whereas O`Shaquie is a natural at this poundage. One has suffered misfortune, while the other has had a slice of luck. In his first fight with Robson Conceicao, O`Shaquie was clinical and technically superior, but Robson gave it everything he` got. You`ve got to love a trier and the Judges decided it was a SD victory for Robson. Shocked, O`Shaquie was more visible and tangible in the rematch and vowed to thereafter and hereafter blend technical skill with palpable desire.
Emanuel`s stroke of luck came two fights ago, against the extremely tough and resourceful Charly Suarez. Emanuel was cut over the left eye in round six. In the heat of a close- range tussle, Referee Edward Collantes saw it as an accidental clash/cosh of heads. Subsequent lengthy recorded analysis hindsight finally suggested it had been a left hook. A technical victory after eight, for Emanuel was changed to a NC. He made up for all of this in his most previous fight, defeating IBF champion Eduardo ‘’Sugar’’ Nunez, whose right eye had swollen shut and the Ring Doctor decided at the start of round eleven that it wouldn`t be either prudent or safe to continue.
O`Shaquie took on the accomplished two division champion Stephen Fulton who was coming up in weight, but then Cool Boy Steph, surprisingly weighed too much, so they fought for the WBC interim Belt, with O`Shaquie convincing winning via UD. A harder test against former WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford, which O`Shaquie won by MD. If we glance at the record of Emanuel it reads: 40-2-1, 33 KO`s including that NC. O`Shaquie is 25-3, 12 KO`s. One is a notable puncher, the other is a boxer who can punch when the occasion demands and we`re fast approaching that crunch time. Emanuel turned pro way back in 2012, while O`Shaquie turned pro that very same year.
The big break for O`Shaquie came in defeating previously unbeaten Jon Fernanez for the WBC Silver title via UD and then two successful defences, until he took on lanky Absolute champion Rey Vargas, handily outboxing him. Emanuel`s first title involved defeating Isaac Dogboe via UD. In the rematch he upped the tempo and Isaac`s Father and Coach threw in the towel at the start of round twelve. He`s also twice defeated Oscar Valdez. Once by UD. The second time Emanuel knocked down Oscar in the first, fourth and fifth and a left to the liver one round later brought him a TKO victory. A majority draw against Robson Conceicao after knocking him down in the fourth and seventh. Just before the second Oscar Valdez fight, Emanuel ambitiously fought Denys Berinchyk for the WBO lightweight title, losing a split decision and ending a twenty- four winning streak. He returned to his natural super-feather division.
The only opponent who has ever dropped Emanuel was Liam Wilson when they fought for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title. Liam canvassed Emanuel with a left hook in round four. Emanuel punished him in round nine and Referee Chris Flores stopped the fight. The most trouble O`Shaquie encountered was against Eduardo Hernandez. He overcame a rocky patch to prevail, just in the nick of time.
For this fight, Emanuel Navarrete is going to set a blistering pace trying to land a high volume of punches to test the tempo. While O`Shaquie Foster will try to outbox him, accurately counter exploiting mistakes and pepper him with jabs. The question of whether he will stand and deliver or box at range will unfold. It`s going to be a clash of styles, a stern test of willpower and who adapts the most intelligently. As Floyd Mayweather Jr has said: ‘’A true champion can adapt to anything.’’ Grasping the moment with bold initiative is the very essence of a champion of champions. As Billie Jean King stressed, fortune favours the bold, involving tipping the balance of power… with the fateful words: ‘’A champion is afraid of losing. Everyone else is afraid of winning.’’
