Former world champion says Foster has the style, versatility and toughness to hand Stevenson a defeat
Regis Prograis believes O’Shaquie Foster is the one fighter capable of beating Shakur Stevenson. Despite Stevenson’s move to light welterweight and recent title success, Prograis says Foster’s skill set would make him his pick in a head-to-head matchup.
“I have been saying this about O’Shaquie forever. At one point in time, I was #1 in the world at 140 lbs, he was coming up at 130 lbs, and I was telling people that O’Shaquie is the truth because his name was so small,” said Prograis to YSM Sports Media.
“He didn’t have the name, but I was always high on O’Shaquie, for a long time. I have been knowing O’Shaquie since he was a child, basically, so I know how good he was, he was just, naturally, real good.
“He works hard, and he has the mindset, O’Shaquie has been through a lot of stuff, and when you have been through stuff like that, your mindset does change, you have different type of mindset. It is going to be hard to beat somebody like O’Shaquie.
“Really, I don’t think that someone like him could be beat, he can only beat himself, he has early losses, and that is kind of what happened to him, he kind of beat himself.”
Prograis then went a step further when asked who he would favor in a potential showdown between Foster and Shakur.
“Yes, [I would favor Foster over Shakur]. I have been in the ring with Shaq more, for sure, but I am telling you, I have got him over Shakur,” said Regis.
“He is natural, he can switch; he can go southpaw and orthodox, equally as good on both sides. O’Shaquie can take a punch, O’Shaquie has really good foot movement, and O’Shaquie has power, also. He doesn’t have that big one-punch knockout power but he has got the power where you have to respect him because it is going to hurt.
“I know how good Shakur is. Shakur is a highly skilled fighter, but for me, right now, I got O’Shaquie.”
Foster has repeatedly expressed interest in facing Stevenson. After Foster defended his WBC super featherweight title with a 12-round majority decision over Raymond Ford on May 30 in Houston, Shakur entered the ring for a face-off. Foster attempted to secure a handshake agreement for a future fight, but Stevenson declined.
Shakur captured the WBO light welterweight title with a unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez, while Foster has recorded victories over Stephen Fulton and Ford in his last two appearances.
