Emanuel Navarrete has not signed on for an October 24 unification fight against O’Shaquie Foster, and his hesitation is understandable considering the difficulty of the matchup.
Alejandro Brito, Navarrete’s manager, rejected reports that the three-belt junior lightweight fight is set for October 24.
“NO, not yet… To close out a fight like that, all those involved must agree, and we (Cowboy) still don’t,” Brito told EverythingBoxing’s Darshan Desai.
Navarrete holds the IBF and WBO titles at 130 pounds, while Foster owns the WBC belt. Navarrete picked up the IBF championship by stopping Eduardo Nunez after 10 rounds on February 28, giving him two of the four major belts in the division.
Foster would present a very different challenge. His movement, counterpunching, and ability to box from the outside are the type of qualities that can make life tough for Navarrete, whose awkward offense works best when he can force opponents into prolonged exchanges.
Navarrete has already had difficult nights against technically sharp fighters. Robson Conceicao fought him to a majority draw in 2023 despite going down twice, while Denys Berinchyk beat him by split decision when Navarrete moved up to lightweight in 2024.
Foster also has less name recognition than some of the opponents Navarrete has faced, leaving Navarrete with a difficult fight that may require the right financial terms to close.
The reward would be significant. Beating Foster would leave Navarrete holding three major championships at junior lightweight and establish him as the division’s dominant titleholder.
Promotional plans and a targeted fall date do not make the fight official. Navarrete’s side still has to give the green light, and Brito made it clear that has not happened.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last Updated on 2026/08/12 at 9:30 PM
Read the full article here
