O’Shaquie Foster insists Shakur Stevenson would offer an easier night than Raymond Ford, yet that optimism leans heavily on a single afternoon of gym work from years back.
Foster claims their old friendship fractured the moment he dominated Shakur in training. Word later reached him that Shakur was privately questioning mutual sparring partners about whether they had ever troubled Foster.
“Honestly, I think he had a terrible day, and I had a great day,” Foster told Andre Berto on Square Up. “One of the last sparring sessions, it got bad for him. Not only does he know that; his team knows that. It got to cooking, I got to cooking, and then he got up out of there. After that, I started hearing through the wind about him checking on me.”
Relying on old gym lore inside championship rings is risky business. A private session during the pandemic offers little indication of how twelve rounds would unfold under bright lights today. Shakur has evolved into one of the most elusive targets in the sport, rarely allowing anyone clean looks.
Foster points to Ford being far more dangerous because of offensive balance and a sharper rear hand. His observation carries technical truth. Shakur operates as a natural right-hander fighting out of a southpaw stance, using his lead hand to dictate range and stifle rhythm.
Shakur rarely needs concussive power in his left hand to dominate rounds. He manages distance with microscopic precision, stepping back inches to let punches slide harmlessly past before picking up points. Foster might slow down the jab, yet dragging Shakur into firefights remains entirely different.
Spite clearly colors Foster’s perspective. Their bond snapped completely once Ford revealed that Shakur recruited him as his chief sparring partner for an eventual Foster clash. Foster viewed the move as deceitful, especially after Shakur sent private messages trying to keep things cordial.
Convinced that Shakur still harbors bad memories from that gym session, Foster treats an ancient workout like a golden ticket. Crossing into that ring and executing over thirty-six minutes presents a far harsher reality.
Foster remains open to meeting at lightweight or junior welterweight, yet conflicting business allegiances stall any real momentum. Without a major backer cutting the check, their feud lives purely in soundbites rather than actual prizefighting.
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