Foster vs Nova Predictions: Foster can secure the knockout against not-so-super Nova

O’Shaquie Foster makes the second defence of his WBC super featherweight championship this Friday. ‘Ice Water’ takes on Abraham Nova at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York City. On the one hand, the bout is something of a showcase for Foster’s considerable talents. On the other, it is a potential banana skin as he eyes bigger fights deeper into 2024.

Nova is no world-beater. His distinctive golden beard stands out more prominently than any of the names on his record. The biggest star on his ledger is former WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez, but he knocked Nova out in five rounds when they fought. Suffice to say, Nova is not the most fearsome world title challenger.

But then neither was Foster’s last opponent. Eduardo Hernandez had never had a 12-round fight before his October bout with Foster. Then he came within seconds of winning one, leading on two of the three scorecards before the champion rallied to stop him in the final round. ‘Ice Water’ had been tepid for most of the night before extinguishing Hernandez’s fire.

Of course, the best fighters find a way to win even when it isn’t their night. As much criticism as Foster deserved for his performance, he also deserves immense credit for pulling off a dramatic victory. But the Texan knows he can’t afford another instance of what the great Gennady Golovkin used to term the “big drama show”. Nova must be dealt with in dominant fashion.

Despite his uncharacteristic struggles against Hernandez, I’m backing Foster to do exactly that. Every fighter endures a rough night now and then. But ‘Ice Water’ showed against high-class opponents like Rey Vargas and Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov just what he is capable of in the squared circle. 

Nova doesn’t have that status of win on his record and he bungled his chance to add one against Ramirez. That loss showed his vulnerability when faced with a world class opponent. Foster is certainly that and I feel he’ll dominate here. 

Foster isn’t a concussive puncher, with 12 of his 21 wins coming by knockout. But his boxing acumen overwhelms lesser fighters as his bouts progress. Nova has never been beyond ten rounds and trying to pace himself in that environment while eating heavy leather will ultimately be his undoing. Foster is 1/10 to get the job done while an upset is priced at 13/2.

My prediction is Foster to win by knockout which is available at 9/5. I just feel his greater level of competition and demonstrable world class credentials will be too much for the limited Nova. If I were to pin it down, I think it’ll take the Texan longer than Ramirez, but my pick is a knockout in the championship rounds of 10-12 at 11/2.

Such a win will put Foster on the path to some very exciting fights. Not least of all a potential unification clash with the IBF champion, Wales’ Joe Cordina. He faces Anthony Cacace in May and if he gets the job done, a Foster fight would be a natural match-up. But first, Foster must remove Nova from his path.

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