Spain's Jon Fernandez, one of the best prospects in boxing, will return to fight in the United States when he faces O'Shaquie Foster in a 10-round junior lightweight bout on Sept. 21.
The fight, announced by promoter Lou DiBella on Friday, will headline a tripleheader on "ShoBox: The New Generation" (Showtime, 9:45 p.m. ET/PT) at the Firelake Arena in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Fernandez (16-0, 14 KOs), 22, who is co-promoted by former middleweight world champion Sergio Martinez, will be boxing in the U.S. for the fourth time. He scored two electrifying knockouts in his two previous appearances on "ShoBox" in 2017, stopping Ernesto Garza in the third round and Juan Reyes in second round. Next up is Foster, who has never been knocked out.
"O'Shaquie Foster is a very good fighter, and although he was the underdog, he put on a great performance by beating Frankie Alba in his last fight," Fernandez said of Foster's eight-round majority decision win on April 13. "This is a big fight for both of us. I'm grateful to Lou DiBella for this opportunity to again show why I'm one of the best prospects in boxing."
Foster (13-2, 8 KOs), 24, of Orange, Texas, who has won three fights in a row, will be making his fourth appearance on "ShoBox" in what appears to be his most difficult assignment.
"This is a great opportunity for me," Foster said. "I know how good Fernandez is and how well thought of he is, but once we get in the ring, I'll show the world that I'm a future world champion. I've been in training and will be ready for victory on Sept. 21."
The telecast will include two eight-round bouts: featherweight Irvin Gonzalez Jr. (10-0, 9 KOs), 22, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who recently signed with DiBella, against Carlos Ramos (9-0, 6 KOs), 22, an Ecuador native fighting out of Spain, and lightweight Wesley Ferrer (12-0-1, 7 KOs), 26, of Brooklyn, New York, squaring off with Steven Ortiz (8-0, 3 KOs), 25, of Philadelphia.
Gonzalez is a highly regarded prospect who turned pro in 2016 after going 90-15 as an amateur. DiBella had been looking to sign him for quite some time.
"This is an opportunity to show the world what I've been working my whole life for," Gonzalez said. "With hard work, anything is possible, and I will show on Sept. 21 that I have what it takes to become a world champion. This is just the next step for me. I'm entering and leaving the ring with an undefeated record."
Ramos, a southpaw who also works with Martinez, will be making his American debut and stepping up in level of opponents against Gonzalez.
"I'm excited to fight in America for the first time and face Irvin Gonzalez," Ramos said. "I know he's a big puncher and has a lot of knockouts, but all the great sparring I've had has built my confidence for a fight like this. I'm sharper than ever and ready to hand him his first loss."
The card is the first of two "ShoBox" shows in consecutive weeks. There will be another on Sept. 28 at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. That show will be headlined by elite lightweight prospect Devin Haney (19-0, 13 KOs), 19, of Las Vegas, whose own Devin Haney Promotions was recently licensed in California and will put on its first card.
Haney is expected to face former featherweight world title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos (33-2-2, 21 KOs), 30, of Mexico.
"Getting approved for my promoter's license in California is something I envisioned since I turned professional," Haney said. "Devin Haney Promotions will start doing shows on a modest scale that will eventually lead to mega events. I already have a couple of young, hungry prospects on my roster and will be looking to sign other talented fighters as we march forward. I plan to showcase some of the best fighters in boxing. With the partnerships my dad [William Haney] and I have garnered, Devin Haney Promotions will be taking boxing to a whole new level."