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Foster Scores Stunning Stoppage Win
Over Hernandez After Round Of The Year
O’Shaquie Foster dug deep to retain his title with a
stunning final round KO win over Eduardo Hernandez – where
the pair wrapped a bow around the round of the year with
incredible action in the 11th round of their brilliant
battle in Cancun, Mexico, live on DAZN.
Foster (21-2 12 KOs) was making the first defense of his
title in the Mexican mandatory challenger’s homeland, and
the belt was on its way to changing hands on the judges’
cards before the insane 11th round that took the breath
away, and ultimately changed the course of the contest.
Hernandez (34-2 31 KOs) somehow stayed on his feet as Foster
stunned him then poured on the pressure, with the Mexican on
the shakiest of legs and seemingly ready to go. But from out
nowhere, ‘Rocky’ hurt the champion and began to unload his
own arsenal as he looked capable of scoring his own
stoppage, with both men ending a breathtaking three minutes
of action trading the most brutal of leather.
Early in the final round though, it was apparent that Foster
had more left in the tank and so it proved, as he floored
Hernandez twice before the referee stepped in to end matters
with just 28 seconds left – and agonizingly for the
challenger, the scorecards after the fight revealed that had
Hernandez heard the final bell, he’d have been crowned the
new king, with two of the judges having him comfortably
ahead – 110-99 and 107-102 – going into the final round.
Hernandez will look to regroup and come again in 2024, but
for Foster, a big box is ticked by pulling out a dramatic
final round KO to cling onto his title in the most dramatic
fashion, and one that will make the boxing world stand up
and take notice, as ‘Ice Water’ called out Joe Cordina to
face him in a unification clash if the Welshman retains his
IBF crown next weekend in Monaco against Edward Vazquez.
“My coaches were telling me that I was behind around the
eighth round so I knew I had to push it before I lose my
belt, I have to give it all, so that’s what I did,” said
Foster. “Rocky is a hell of a puncher and a hell of a
fighter, I had to dig deep, but I knew I could catch him.
Around the ninth or tenth round, I started seeing his body
limp when I hit him with the right hand, so I just kept
having faith in it.
“In the 11th round I hurt him, but he came back and hit me
with a good shot so it gave him a little more hope, but in
the 12th round I knew I could catch him.
“With the comeback KO I rate my performance an eight out of
ten, but I really wasn’t too satisfied with how I fought.
But it was a fun fight, I had fun in there.
“I want the winner of the fight next week with Cordina and
Vazquez, that should be next, unify, let’s do it. I’ve
proved I’ll go anywhere to fight, so if it’s the UK, let’s
do it.”
Elsewhere on the card, Justis Huni (8-0 4 KOs) made an
impressive debut under the Matchroom banner, widely
outpointing Andrew Tabiti (20-2 16 KOs) to win the WBA
International Heavyweight title and Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez
(25-1 25 KOs) extended his ominous KO streak to 25 out of 25
by blasting Oscar Escandon (27-7 16 KOs) away inside two
rounds.
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