What to Know
- In a dominant and driven performance, O’Shaquie Foster froze out Emanuel Navarrete, becoming the unified super featherweight champion in San Antonio on Saturday
- Foster dropped Navarrete three times in the final round to seal his impressive victory.
- In the co-main event, Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez made his case as the 2026 Prospect of the Year. We’re believers.
What to Know
- Three belts will be on the line in a sensational super featherweight unification fight between Emanual Navarrete and O’Shaquie Foster Saturday at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.
- In the co-feature, undefeated prospect Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez will take on two-time world title challenger Edward Vazquez
- The fight card airs on DAZN Boxing with the main card at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Before the bell action starts at 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT. on DAZN, Top Rank and DAZN’s YouTube channels, and the Top Rank Classics FAST channel on Roku, Tubi, Pluto and Vizio.
O’Shaquie Foster dared to put his hand on a hot stove Saturday, but by the force of his will and skill, he put Emanuel Navarrete into a deep freeze.
In nothing less than a tour de force, Foster of Orange, Texas (26-3, 12 KOs) confronted the offense of Navarrete of Mexico (40-3-1, 33 KOs) head on with a fearless determination, disarming him and eventually wearing him down. After scoring three knockdowns in the final round, not even the Texas judges could mess this one up.
Two judges got it right at 118-108, with a third seeing it at 115-111. Foster wins the IBF and WBO titles from Navarrete, and the vacant Ring Magazine belt, while defending his WBC World Featherweight title.
“There was no way they could rob me. I controlled every round … I knew I was doing the most work in there,” said Foster.
SHOCK DROPS NAVARRETE IN THE FINAL ROUND! ⚡ #NavarreteFoster | Live NOW on DAZN ▪️ https://t.co/GxztAYcmYt
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 25, 2026
“I worked so hard to get here, man,” said a smiling Foster. “I knew he was gonna be strong. I knew he was gonna be awkward. He’s a great champion. I just had a little bit more in me tonight,” said Foster.
Navarrete was equally gracious toward the new unified champion. “What I have to say, it’s short, acceptable, and it’s professional. In this sport, it’s about styles. His style was better than mine tonight. He won tonight. Everyone, please applaud for him,” said Navarrete to his many fans in San Antonio.
Foster Shows He’s More Than a Tactical Genius
Navarrete said he knew fans didn’t want to see a defensive fight. Given Foster’s superior technical skills, fans expected him to slow the pace and fight Navarrete at a safe distance, given his exceptional ring IQ, defense, and hand-and-foot speed.
Foster and his trainer Bobby Benton must have realized he had the skills to engage with Navarrete and disarm him as the savvy ring general who is cool under fire. He stood his ground with confidence and healthy defiance, proving critics wrong in predicting he wouldn’t try to engage Navarrete in a firefight.
“He’s an awkward, strong champion. Man, it was a long night. He’s got heavy hands. But I’ve got a chin, and I’m not really worried about power. I’ve got my own,” said Foster.
Foster’s knockout rate is deceiving. He doesn’t always need to move in to stop the fight. But on Saturday after the 11th round, Benton encouraged Foster to go for it. The three knockdowns didn’t end in a knockout, but they left an undeniable mark on the performance.
“I felt like I was breaking him down. I wanted him to overwork, played a little mind games with him. Coming into the fight I knew I was going to be able to run him into shots, and that’s what I did.”
Foster reflected on his accomplishment, something ten years in the making, after being incarcerated, then deciding to pursue boxing and stick with it after several early career losses.
Now, Foster and trainer Bobby Benton have legitimate claims as possible 2026 Fighter and Trainer of the Year.
“Words can’t even explain. It took a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, and a lot of belief, especially where I’ve come from.
“I want to go undisputed, man. My dream is to become undisputed and make history. All I need is one more to fulfill my biggest dream and then see Shakur,” said Foster.
Boxing fans are already anticipating that all-American showdown. Foster’s priority is the winner of the December 19 fight in Belfast between WBA World Super Featherweight champion Anthony Cacace and former champion Nick Ball.
But before any of this happens, remember that the WBO granted Navarrete the unification bout with Foster on the condition that the winner defend the WBO title against Charly Suarez of the Philippines within 180 days. Garner holds the WBC interim title, while Zaurbek won the IBF eliminator.
Chop Chop Gonzalez Ready To Rumble With the Champions
Unbeaten featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez of Moreno Valley, California expected to face a test against Fort Worth native and former two-time world title challenger Edward Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas.
Ummm, things didn’t exactly work out that way. Uno, dos, adios.
ALBERT CHOP CHOP GONZALEZ GETS IT DONE IN 2 ROUNDS! 😱 #NavarreteFoster | Live NOW on DAZN ▪️ https://t.co/rmk7S5Wj8k
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 25, 2026
Gonzalez (19-0, 12 KOs) landed 28 power shots out of 53 landed punches in four minutes. Almost half went to the body of Vazquez of Fort Worth, Texas (20-4, 6 KOs). Vazquez came out aggressively but landed only nine punches on Gonzalez before being dropped.
Consider this: the only other opponent to stop Vazquez, featherweight world champion Rafael “Divino” Espinoza, needed seven rounds to stop Vazquez on body shots in May 2025.
“I wanted to stay in the pocket a little bit, see what his pressure choices were, and when I seen he was a little slow in the pocket, I knew I could catch him in between the shots and land that body shot,” said Gonzalez. “The body’s on my mind every single fight.”
Gonzalez said he was surprised when Vazquez couldn’t beat the count of referee Laurence Cole, but said it would have only delayed the same result.
Gonzalez mentioned that he’d be willing to join trainer Robert Garcia in traveling to Riyadh, where WBC champion Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza’s original opponent dropped out.
But Chop Chop won’t get his chance. A replacement is already scheduled.
Gonzalez credited Robert Garcia and the entire RGBA team for his four-fight knockout streak. With Saturday’s win, Gonzalez jumped to the top of our 2026 Prospect of the Year list.
Frank Martin Finding His Way Back
Super lightweight contender Frank Martin of Indianapolis (20-1-1, 14 KOs) faced a tricky opponent and a solid game plan as he returned to the ring on Saturday.
Tarik Zaina of Morocco (18-4-1, 12 KOs), who trains in Tijuana, Mexico, said Martin was the opponent he always wanted to face. In the early rounds, it was easy to see why. Zaina used his reach and movement to frustrate Martin early.
The San Antonio fans began to boo, unhappy about the lack of serious action.
Eventually Martin settled in, settled down, and didn’t get anxious. He figured out how to handle Zaina. It paid off with a sensational seventh-round TKO win.
From ringside 😱 @TheGhost_2016 | @DAZNBoxing https://t.co/j7LxIyRovx
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 25, 2026
Martin caught Zaina with a solid left hook counterpunch, forcing Zaina back into the ropes on wobbly legs. He followed with a two-punch combo and dropped the Moroccan to the canvas. Zaina got up, but Martin had no intention of letting the opportunity slip away. He unleashed his full offensive arsenal, and referee Angel Mendez stepped in at 2:38.
Martin has been on a long road back since his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis in 2025. He was happy getting the stoppage.
“I came in and got what I wanted. It took me a little while to get going, but you know, we got it done,” said Martin. He felt he could have been sharper, promising to get right back in the gym, “get better, stay sharp. No partying, nothing like that. Maybe about two nights, but other than that, gonna stay focused and stay locked in for bigger things that’s ahead,” said Martin.
Martin said he isn’t targeting any specific opponents, but wants title fights and to earn a living.
Scooter Davis Earns Decision Over Joaquin Faccio
In the opening bout, lightweight Deric “Scooter” Davis of Fort Washington, Maryland (13-0, 10 KOs) dealt with a trickier opponent than expected in Joaquin Faccio of Uruguay (10-2, 4 KOs).
Faccio showed he wasn’t in San Antonio just for a payday. His awkward and unexpected moves gave Davis enough trouble to make him work for the win. It made for a fun fight to watch for the San Antonio fans. Faccio didn’t win a round, and the judges scored it 80-72 on all three cards.
Gayle Falkenthal is an award-winning boxing journalist with more than four dozen awards for both written and video coverage from the Boxing Writers Association of America, Society of Professional Journalists, and San Diego Press Club, where she is the past president. She is the only woman journalist who is a full voting member of the BWAA. She is the Boxing Editor for NY Fights based in San Diego, California.
