WBC Special Preview: Foster vs. Hernandez
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Super Featherweight World Championship
October 28, 2023 / Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico / Poliforum Benito Juarez
MATCHROOM BOXING PRESENTS:
O’SHAQUIE “Ice Water” FOSTER (USA)
WBC Super Featherweight World Champion
Age: 30 / Date of birth: September 17, 1993
Residence: Houston, Texas / Birthplace: Orange, Texas
Record: 20-2, 11 KOs / Total rounds: 122 / World championship fights: 1-0, 0 KOs
Height: 5’6” – 168cm / Reach: 71.5” – 181 cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Keith Mills / Trainer: Bobby Benton
EDUARDO “Rocky” HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Featherweight
WBC International Silver Super Featherweight Champion
Former WBC Youth Super Featherweight Champion
Age: 25 / Date of birth: November 21, 1997
Birthplace: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
Record: 34-1, 31 KOs / Total rounds: 83 / World championship fights: 0
Height: 5’6.5” – 169cm / Reach: 68” – 173cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Hector Fernandez de Cordova / Trainer: Luis Carlos Dorea
WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Gabriel Elorde (Phil) 1963 – 1967
2. Yoshiaki Numata (Jap) 1967
3. Hiroshi Kobayashi (Japan) 1967 – 1968
4. Rene Barrientos (Phil) 1969 – 1970
5. Yoshiaki Numata (Japan) * 1970 – 1971
6. Ricardo Arredondo (Mex) 1971 – 1974
7. Kuniaki Shibata (Jap) 1974 – 1975
8. Alfredo Escalera (P. Rico) 1975 – 1978
9. Alexis Arguello (Nic) 1978 – 1980
10. Rafael Limon (Mex) 1980 – 1981
11. Cornelius Boza-Edwards (Uganda) 1981
12. Rolando Navarrete (Phil) 1981 – 1982
13. Rafael Limon (Mex) * 1982
14. Bobby Chacon (US) 1982 – 1983
15. Hector Camacho (P. Rico) 1983
16. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mex) 1984 – 1987
17. Azumah Nelson (Ghana) 1988 – 1994
18. James Leija (US) 1994
19. Gabriel Ruelas (Mex) 1994 – 1995
20. Azumah Nelson (Ghana) * 1995 – 1997
21. Genaro Hernandez (US) 1997 – 1998
22. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US) 1998 – 2001
23. Sirimongkol Singmanassuk (Thai) 2002 – 2003
24. Jesus Chavez (Mexico) 2003 – 2004
25. Erik Morales (Mexico) 2004
26. Marco Antonio 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 (Mex, Interim) 2009
31. Vitaly Tajbert (Germany) 2009 – 2010
32. Takahiro Aoh (Japan) 2010 – 2012
33. Gamaliel Diaz (Mexico) 2012 – 2013
34. Takashi Miura (Japan) 2013 – 2015
35. Francisco Vargas (Mexico) 2015 – 2017
36. Miguel Berchelt (Mexico) 2017 – 2021
37. Oscar Valdez (Mexico) 2021 – 2022
38. Shakur Stevenson (US) 2022
39. O’Shaquie Foster (US) 2023 –
* Regained
WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TOP 10 CHAMPIONS
1. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mexico)
2. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (US)
3. Alexis Arguello (Nicaragua)
4. Hector Camacho (P. Rico)
5. Azumah Nelson (Ghana)
6. Gabriel Elorde (Phil)
7. Erik Morales (Mexico)
8. Marco Antonio Barrera (Mexico)
9. Ricardo Arredondo (Mexico)
10. James Leija (US)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
36 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, three of whom regained the title: Yoshiaki Numata (Japan), Rafael Limon (Mexico), Azumah Nelson (Ghana).
139 Super featherweight world championship fights have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:
Feb. 11, 2023 O’Shaquie Foster W12 Rey Vargas – San Antonio, Texas
Apr. 30, 2022 Shakur Stevenson W12 Oscar Valdez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Feb. 20, 2021 Oscar Valdez KO10 Miguel Berchelt – Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 2, 2019 Miguel Berchelt KO4 Jason Sosa – Carson, California
Nov. 3, 2018 Miguel Berchelt TKO9 Miguel “Mickey” Roman – El Paso, Texas
Jan. 29, 2017 Miguel Berchelt KO11 Francisco Vargas – Indio, California
June 4, 2016 Francisco Vargas D12 Orlando Salido – Carson, California
Nov. 21, 2015 Francisco Vargas TKO9 Takashi Miura – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 15, 2008 Manny Pacquiao W12 Juan Manuel Marquez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 17, 2007 Juan Manuel Marquez W12 Marco Antonio Barrera – Las Vegas, Nevada
Nov. 27, 2004 Marcos Antonio Barrera W12 Erik Morales – Las Vegas, Nevada
Oct. 3, 1998 Floyd Mayweather Jr. TKO8 Genaro Hernandez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 22, 1997 Genaro Hernandez W12 Azumah Nelson – Corpus Christi, Texas
Oct. 13, 1990 Azumah Nelson W12 Juan LaPorte – Sydney, Australia
Sep. 13, 1984 Julio Cesar Chavez TKO8 Mario Martinez – Los Angeles, California
Aug. 7, 1983 Hector Camacho TKO5 Rafael Limon – San Juan, Puerto Rico
May 30, 1981 Cornelius Boza-Edwards TKO13 Bobby Chacon – Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan. 28 1978 Alexis Arguello TKO13 Alfredo Escalera – Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Dec. 14, 1967 Hiroshi Kobayshi KO12 Yoshiaki Numata – Kokugjikan, Japan
Feb. 16, 1963 Flash Elorde W15 Johnny Bizarro – Manila, Philippines
WORLD SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY
US 70
JAPAN 28
MEXICO 11
PUERTO RICO 9
PHILIPPINES 7
ITALY 2
GERMANY 2
FRANCE 2
AUSTRALIA 2
VENEZUELA 1
NORWAY 1
MONACO 1
GHANA 1
ENGLAND 1
COSTA RICA 1
TOTAL FIGHTS 139
WBC TITLE FIGHTS: MEXICO VS USA
There has been 155 WBC title fights between USA and Mexico
Mexico has won 97 bouts / USA has won 55 + 3 draws
WBC Super Featherweight Fights: Mexico vs. Usa
Mexico has won 11 fights.
USA has won 5 fights.
11/12/1982 BOBBY CHACON – RAFAEL LIMON DEC 15 SACRAMENTO
19/04/1985 JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – RUBEN CASTILLO KO 6 INGLEWOOD
07/07/1985 JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – ROGER MAYWEATHER TKO 2 LAS VEGAS
21/09/1985 JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – DWIGHT PRATCHETT DEC 12 LAS VEGAS
03/08/1986 JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – ROCKY LOCKRIDGE DEC 12 MONTECARLO
17/09/1994 GABRIEL RUELAS – JAMES LEIJA DEC 12 LAS VEGAS
28/01/1995 GABRIEL RUELAS – FRED LIBERATORE TKO 2 LAS VEGAS
18/03/2000 FLOYD MAYWEATHER – GOYO VARGAS DEC 12 LAS VEGAS
10/11/2001 FLOYD MAYWEATHER – JESUS CHAVEZ TKO 9 SAN FRANCISCO
20/05/2006 MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA – ROCKY JUAREZ DEC 12 LOS ANGELES
16/09/2006 MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA – ROCKY JUAREZ DEC 12 LAS VEGAS
03/11/2007 JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ – ROCKY JUAREZ DEC 12 TUCSON
28/03/2009 HUMBERTO SOTO – ANTONIO DAVIS TKO 4 TIJUANA
02/11/2019 MIGUEL BERCHELT – JASON SOSA (VOL.) KO 4 CARSON
30/04/2022 SHAKUR STEVENSON (WBO CHAM.) – OSCAR VALDEZ UD 12 LAS VEGAS
11/02/2023 O’SHAQUIE FOSTER – REY VARGAS (VACANT) UD 12 SAN ANTONIO
How will Foster fare in the Jaguar’s lair?
By James Blears
It has been said by a geographically misguided few, that WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster is venturing into the lion’s den, by coming on down to Benito Juarez Sports Center Cancun, on Saturday October 28th, for the first defense of his Green and Gold Belt, against power puncher Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez.
However, wild lions haven’t been seen in these climes or neck of the tundra, since the last Ice Age.
The solitary, stealthy, lantern jawed jaguar, which crushes the skulls of caymans like eggshells with its powerful jaws, fortified by such a fright bite, is far more at home here in the sultry jungles and hinterlands. You seldom see it coming, until it pounces. What a hunter!
This one is a classic matchup/clash of a craftsman Vs a demolition man. O’Shaquie aged thirty, was the first fighter to defeat lanky Rey Vargas, which is no mean feat. He did so convincingly via UD for the vacant title.
He debuted as a pro way back in 2012. His record is 20-2, 11 KO’s. The defeats came early in his career against Samuel Teah with a UD loss in 2015. And a split decision loss against Rolando Chinea a year later. Since then, all wins. He’s a useful, precise but not big puncher with a fifty five percent KO ratio. A particularly notable UD victory was against then undefeated Jon Fernandez back in 2018. That was for the WBC Silver Title.
Like a fine wine, O’Shaquie, who’s nicknamed “Ice Water” and “King Shock” has matured with age, becoming savvy, subtle, wily and cunning. He can fight off the ropes, is sound defensively and wastes few punches. He stays in excellent shape and although he’s occasionally fought at lightweight, he’s comfortable at super feather. He’s the champion and brimming with confidence. He’s looking forward to venturing into and gaining from Cancun. No suggestion of: “Dr Foster went to Gloucester!
Eduardo Hernandez, nicknamed Rocky, in the master blaster tradition of Marciano and Graziano, is still aged twenty-five and from Mexico City, but now lives in Las Vegas. He pro debuted in 2014. Ed used to be a regular at WBC press conferences in the Capital. Shy and reserved away from the madding crowd, he’s a holy terror inside of the ring, when roared on by it. His record is 34-1, with 31 KO’s. That’s a stoppage percentage of 91.8 percent! Akin to a Jekyll and Hyde, or in the comic book tradition, Jimmy Jekyll and Master Hyde.
In his callow years, Eduardo was sometimes prone to floods of tears, after releasing, exerting and inflicting all that pent up thunderbolt energy. But that was long ago and far away. He won the WBC Youth title and successfully defended it five times, all stoppages.
Everything appeared hunky dory, and then…. Roger Gutierrez caught him cold and stopped him in the first round. Ouch! Since then, he’s bounced back with six stoppage victories, including winning the WBC International Silver title, with a one minute thirty six seconds KO of Jorge Castañeda last year, so here we are. Will O’Shaquie be able to withstand getting caught with a cascade of hailstones and cobblestones in Cancun? Or might Rocky again get careless, be exposed and dearly pay the price.
It certainly won’t be dull!
Cancun has developed apace over the years as a boxing mecca. It’s hosted two World Boxing Council Conventions, A WBC heavyweight title fight between Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev, a WBC Medical Seminar and a WBC Female Convention. There was also Night of the Champions, The Mayan paradise had been battered, mauled and chewed by Hurricane Katrina, but it dusted itself off, got back up…and how! Shaken, stirred but still in the mix!
Pepe Gomez’s Cancun Boxing has been very active in the Mayan Rivera with some veritable thrillers. The titanic barnstormer of Edgar Sosa Vs local lad Wilbert Uicab for the WBC Silver and WBC International light flyweight titles at the extraordinary Grand Oasis Hotel, famed for its stilt walkers and aerial gymnastic shows. Wilberto dropped Edgar with a mighty right in round one. Stunned Edgar got up in a haze/daze and then moments later the bell rang. Edgar returned the compliment in round xix and went on to win a UD.
Arguably the most thrilling night was when Pepe dug deep and enticed formidable WBC super featherweight champion Takashi Miura all the way from Japan to Cancun’s Bullring. His challenger was another local likely lad, the ferocious, yet affable Sergio “Yeyo” Thompson. Oh what a night! Takashi dropped Sergio hard in round two. He felled Sergio again, this time in round six. But Yeyo…simply wouldn’t give in! Grimacing, scowling, and biting down hard on his mouth guard, he grimly launched his own grandstand onslaught in round eight and… down went Takashi! The shocked and flustered Japanese southpaw power puncher regained his feet and retained his title by UD. What an extraordinary and fantastic fight it was!
This time and for this event, there are plenty of promotional reinforcements. Matchroom Boxing, led by Eddie Hearn, arm in arm with Pepe y Cancun Boxing, Boxing Time with Memo Rocha and Promociones Del Pueblo led by Oswaldo Kuchle.
It’s going to be a night to remember as the shell horns of the dancers dressed like antlered deer, iguanas and prowling jaguars eerily summon the two warriors to this pitched battle, within a stone’s throw of the sugar white sand, dappled by the turquoise, balmy waters of the Caribbean. Also, the bay in front of the hotel strip which is reputed to nestle crocodiles! But I’ve seen people water skiing there!
Pepe always extends an open invitation. So, it’s NOT one to miss!
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