Will The Real WBC Lightweight Champ Please Stand Up?
Stevenson-WBC
Foster-Boxing Bob Newman
Herrera-DAZN
By Boxing Bob Newman
Fightnews.com communicated with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman on Monday (1-13-26) to clear up the confusion within the lightweight division regarding the status of their championship recognition. “What confusion” You may be asking? Allow us to fill you in:
Shakur Stevenson has been the reigning WBC lightweight champ since November 16, 2023 when he won the vacant title in a 12-round decision over Edwin de los Santos. He’s defended successfully against Artem Harutyunyan (UD12), Josh Padley (TKO9) and William Zepeda (UD12). Technically, he is still the champ as of today, as he prepares to move up to super lightweight to challenge WBO champ Teofimo Lopez at MSG on Jan. 31st.
O’Shaquie Foster won the interim WBC lightweight title in a strange set of circumstances back on Dec. 6, 2025, when his opponent Stephen Fulton failed to make weight in a challenge for Foster’s WBC super featherweight title (130 lbs). The WBC decided to sanction the fight for the interim lightweight title, as Stevenson was busy moving up in weight to challenge Lopez and the full WBC title would be remaining dormant.
Jaider Herrera had already been scheduled to challenge for the vacant interim WBC lightweight title on Jan. 10, before the Foster-Fulton “weight-gate” debacle ensued. Herrera defeated Ricardo Nuñez to win that version of the interim belt.
This writer decided to contact Sulaiman on Monday to get some clarification on the matter. Despite heading down to Mexico City to receive his new interim WBC belt, Foster did so gladly, but them relinquished it to remain as super featherweight champ of the WBC. However, “Foster was given mandatory status at lightweight in case he chooses to challenge either Shakur or Herrera,” said Sulaiman. “If Shakur doesn’t return to lightweight, Herrera will fight O’Shaquie for the title.”
So the results of January 31st will determine much at lightweight!
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