O'Shaquie Foster has been playing with fire during his junior lightweight title reign, needing final-round heroics in his last two fights to keep his WBC crown. 

Entering Saturday night’s showdown against Robson Conceicao (18-2-1, 9 KOs), Foster’s (22-2, 12 KOs) expecting a firefight – and to definitively score a victory by clearly showcasing superior skills. 

“He's the perfect opponent,” Foster told BoxingScene. “It's a chance to show the world and to separate myself from those guys. I plan on going in there and dominating. I plan on not letting it get close in this fight.”

The judges have nearly spoiled Foster’s past two fights.

After unseating former champion Rey Vargas in February 2023 via unanimous decision, Foster had to travel to Mexico to score a 12th-round knockout of Eduardo Hernandez that October to avoid a split decision defeat. Foster was down on two of the scorecards and needed the knockout to win a fight that was shrouded with controversy because of its questionable judging. 

In February 2024 Foster then had to score a 12th-round knockdown against Abraham Nova to ensure he secured a split decision in a competitive contest. 

“I don't fault the judges,” he said. “That's just on me to control it the next time out.” 

Conceicao, a 2016 Brazilian Olympic gold medalist, will once again look to spoil after fighting to a majority draw with Emanuel Navarrete, despite being dropped twice, in November. Conceicao then won in April by scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jose Ivan Guardado Ortiz. 

“He’s fought Oscar Valdez, Shakur Stevenson, and Navarrete the same – all of his fights are the same,” said Foster. “I expect a high-rate awkward guy in front of me who has grit. He has heart, so he's going to keep coming. I'm expecting for him to come at his best. His confidence must be real high coming off the draw with Navarrete.”

Foster, a 30-year-old from Houston who is nicknamed “Ice Water,” is also not short of confidence. He’s riding a 10-fight winning streak and nearing his second date of a multi-fight promotional contract with Top Rank.

“I credit [my career turnaround] to belief and keeping my faith and confidence up,” he said. “I never let my confidence slip, even when I was 10-2, and now, as a champion, it's through the roof. I'm not getting complacent in anything. Just staying grounded and humbled. I'm looking at myself as a champion but until the world calls me a pound-for-pound fighter then I'll feel a lot better. But for now, I have a lot to work on and accomplish.”

Should Foster beat Conceicao, he’s looking to face the winner of the yet-to-be-finalized rematch between Navarrete and the WBO interim junior lightweight titlist Oscar Valdez.

“I'm going to try to go for undisputed at 130-pound before I move up to 135 pounds,” said Foster. “I'm definitely going to go see those names. That's what it's looking like but I have to first handle business on July 6.” 

Foster-Conceicao will be the co-main event on the card headlined by Shakur Stevenson-Artem Harutyunyan at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.