Stevenson On Foster's Title Situation At 135

Shakur Stevenson remains open to fighting O'Shaquie Foster but wants the former junior lightweight champion to prove himself at 135 pounds first.

The WBC and Ring lightweight titleholder told the Cigar Talk podcast that Foster needs to establish himself as a genuine 135-pounder rather than move up temporarily, according to Ring Magazine. Foster captured the WBC interim lightweight belt in December after Stephen Fulton missed weight for their scheduled 130-pound title defense, then vacated the strap to drop back down to junior lightweight.

Foster's Missed Opportunity At Lightweight

"I would love to fight him," Stevenson said on the podcast. "I just want my credit when I beat him. If he went up to 135 and proved himself, then he's no longer a 130 pounder. He did not prove himself at 135."

Foster outpointed Stephen Fulton by unanimous decision to claim the interim belt after the WBC arbitrarily sanctioned their bout at lightweight when Fulton came in two pounds over the 130-pound limit. Rather than pursue a mandatory shot at Stevenson, who held the full title at the time, Foster chose to relinquish the belt and return to defend his junior lightweight strap.

Stevenson was later stripped by the WBC following his January victory over Teofimo Lopez at Zuffa Boxing's inaugural event. The vacant title was contested Saturday night in Las Vegas, where William Zepeda dominated Lamont Roach to claim the belt. Stevenson suggested Foster should have forced the issue by keeping his interim title and demanding the fight. "He had the opportunity to fight for the WBC at 135," Stevenson added. "He should've been in the position that Lamont Roach was in."

Stevenson signed with Zuffa Boxing in July and holds a 25-0 record. Foster is 25-3 and recently retained his WBC junior lightweight title with a decision over Ray Ford, a close friend of Stevenson.

Source: ringmagazine.com