Stephen Foster Junior gets the chance to add his name to the growing list of British fighters with a major title around their waist when challenging Levan Kirakosyan for the European super-featherweight crown, live on Sky Sports Saturday Fight Night from 9.30pm.
One time English and WBU featherweight champion Stephen Foster makes his first title bid in almost 3 years following a 2007 points defeat at the hands of Alex Arthur for the interim WBO super-featherweight gong. Although there was little shame in being edged out on a narrow points decision by an in form fighter in his own backyard, the 30 year old Salford man seemed to take rejection badly, racking up only 4 outings since against little more than journeymen.
Business wasn’t always as slow for the 5ft 6inch orthodox who bullied his way through the lighter weights following a 2001 debut however. A 14 fight undefeated record saw Foster fight for, and win, the English title thanks to a 6th round victory over Sean Hughes and after a successful defence he moved on to add the WBU featherweight strap withanother inside the distance win, this time over Columbia’s Livinson Ruiz. An enthralling tussle with battled hardened John Simpson saw the Englishman defend his stepping stone title on points but it was another Simpson conqueror, Derry Mathews, who stopped the hot prospect in his tracks. In what was a meeting of two classy undefeated fighters, it was the Liverpool man who came out on top thanks to a comfortable points decision, taking Foster’s title from him as well as his chance to move on to bigger things. Foster shook off disappointment with 2 KO wins before stepping up in class to face Arthur, but defeat to the former ‘Amazing’ man of Scottish boxing left Stephen stuck in the shadows with no obvious path out. Feeling his career had hit a brick wall, he parted company with promoter Frank Warren to move under the protective wing of Hatton promotions and it was to be a shrewd call, with the Hitman propelling his latest recruit back into the lime light. Boasting a career record of 27 wins, 17 inside the distance against 2 defeats and 1 draw, the man ranked number 6 in the UK has experience onside but bookmakers take an unpatriotic stance in making him a best priced 5/2 shot (bet365).
They say odds compilers rarely get it wrong and Russia’s number 1 super-feather will be hoping that is true as he makes the second defence of a European honour picked up thanks to a February win over Stoke’s Scott Lawton. Born in Armenia, Kirakosyan has set up base in France during a remarkable 11 year career. Beaten on his debut, the 5ft 5inch orthodox managed only 14 wins from his first 18 outings before a brutal 2004 stoppage defeat at the fists of Michael Gomez saw him turn his fortunes around. Kirakosyan embarked on an incredible run of 19 victories from his next 20 outings, earning him stoppage wins over the likes of Carl Johanneson as he collected, lost, and then regained the European title. 10 knockout wins from his last 12 bouts has seen the champion become one of the most feared fighters in the world at the weight and bookmakers give him a wide berth, with Boylesports offering a standout 2/5.
This will undoubtedly be the biggest test of Foster’s career to date but it is what he has been asking for and the challenger will enter this one determined to get his career back on track. He hasn’t boxed over 6 rounds since late 2007 but any signs of ring rust will see him lucky to make it that far against such a devastating opponent. Kirakosyan has deadly power in both hands, we saw that when destroying Lawton in Stoke, but at only 5ft 5inches tall and 36 years of age, he is not indestructible. Foster will know if he fails here his career is all but over and I don’t think anyone in British boxing wants to see that. The home town favourite is a ticket seller, has bags of ability and now has priceless experience onside and I doubt he will go the same way as his fellow countryman did only 7 months ago. The champion knows he is boxing on borrowed time but he has been active, with his last outing in July, and will be looking to catch Foster cold. The longer this one goes the more it could swing in the underdogs favour and if he can avoid the inevitable fast start from Kirakosyan, I see him putting rounds in the bank. The man in the away corner is a concussive puncher, as his 61% KO average proves, but Foster has never been stopped and will want to at least keep his dignity intact.
This one going over 9.5 rounds can be backed at 8/11 (Boylesports) whilst those looking to invest in a new champion may fancy the bulky 4/1 with high street bookmakers Ladbrokes about Foster winning over the judges.
Take a look at -
over 9.5 rnds
Foster points win
