O’Shaquie Foster hopes for Miguel Berchelt title shot after Roman

Junior lightweight prospect O’Shaquie Foster has a big fight against Miguel Roman. A win could move him up the WBC rankings where Berchelt is champ.

Houston is a city teeming with boxing talent. Jermell Charlo, Jermall Charlo, and Regis Prograis are a few of the boxers who train and live in the area, but junior lightweight O’Shaquie Foster feels like he’s the next city product who’s going to make it big.

Foster (17-2, 10 KOs) works with veteran trainer Bobby Benton and is ready for a breakout performance.

“Houston is making a lot of noise,” Foster told FanSided. “Texas is making a lot of noise. I’m next up. I’m the one that’s got to grab the title next so we can have one of the lower weight classes. I’m loving what Texas is doing. everybody is together.”

Foster headlines the inaugural event for the new boxing venture Ring City U.S.A. against former title challenger Miguel Roman. The pandemic has greatly limited sports events, but it has allowed new avenues like Ring City U.S.A to bring a unique format to the table.

Ring City U.S.A bouts will be televised on NBC Sports Network and will take place in Freddie Roach’s famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Los Angeles, CA.

Roman (62-13, 47 KOs) signifies the toughest fight of Foster’s career. Roman challenged Miguel Berchelt for his WBC title in 2018 but was stopped in the ninth round. Since that defeat, he has won two fights and is ranked as the 12th best junior lightweight in the world by Boxrec.com.

Foster is familiar with Roman and has kept tabs on him over the years. He anticipated that their paths would cross at some point.

“I already knew a lot about Roman because when I cracked the top 15 two years ago, I paid close attention to anyone that was ahead of me,” said Foster. “Especially, those that were in the top five, top six. He was already up there. He was one of the guys we were trying to get into the ring with us a year ago, two years ago.”

O’Shaquie Foster finally has a shot at a top junior lightweight, but he won’t be satisfied until he earns a title shot

Roman is a tall order for Foster, who hasn’t fought since his unanimous decision victory over Alberto Mercado last November. The pandemic has kept Foster out of the ring, but he has trained consistently throughout the worldwide ordeal.

FanSided profiled Foster a year ago before his bout with Mercado. Foster opened up about the loss of his mother at the age of 12, growing up impoverished in Orange, TX,  and street life, which got him into trouble with the law in 2017.

Foster detailed the misery he experienced in jail during Hurricane Harvey to The Sweet Science, which acted as the catalyst for Foster to turn his life around.

During the idle time of the pandemic, Foster has kept his mind on boxing. He still visits Orange to see his siblings and grandma, but life on the streets is far removed from his mind.

“I go back to orange all the time,” said Foster. “I still have brothers and sisters, and my grandma stays down there. I’m always in and out of the city, but as far as getting in trouble or being around the old stuff that I used to be around, it’s not even close to being a factor.”

Foster knows that Roman will be a challenge, but he’s also confident about his chances.

“He’s a warrior,” said Foster of Roman. “He comes to fight. There’s always great fights with him. I don’t think he has fought anybody that’s close to my skill, but I definitely feel like he’s going to come to fight.”

Ultimately, Foster wants to monopolize a win over Roman into a title shot against WBC champion Berchelt. A high-profile win is important to Foster, but it’s a means to an end where he eventually wants a major title around his waist.

“It would be Berchelt because I’m already ranked in the WBC sanctioning body,” said Foster regarding his future. “That’s one of the titles I would like to have.”

A victory against Roman is far from guaranteed, but it’s required if Foster wants the chance of facing the likes of Berchelt. He feels he’s ready. Tune in to NBC Sports Network on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 9 p.m ET to see Foster vs. Roman.