Stephen Foster (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Foster is an English professional boxer fighting in the super featherweight
division. He is the former European super featherweight champion and is a former holder of the English and WBU titles at featherweight.
. Over the rest of 2001 and during the next two years Foster fought on thirteen more occasions and winning each time competing in places such as London, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dagenham and Manchester to build up an unbeaten record of 14-0 at the end of 2003. On 26 February 2004 in his first fight of the new year, Foster defeated the unbeaten Sean Hughes at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes
to win the English featherweight title with a sixth round stoppage. A win over Frenchman Jean-Marie Codet followed before on 1 October 2004, Foster returned to the MEN Arena to defeat Gary Thornhill in the ninth round to make his first successful defence of the title.
and then in another non-title contest drew with Buster Dennis over eight rounds at the ExCeL London. On 1 April 2006, Foster made his first defence of the WBU title against John Simpson
at the York Hall
, retaining with a decision over 12 rounds. An early stoppage of Frederic Bonifai in another non-title clash followed before making his second defence of the title on 14 October 2006. Returning to the MEN Arena, Foster suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of then unbeaten Derry Mathews
, losing the title on points over 12 rounds.
and followed this up by once more beating the Frenchman Jean-Marie Codet at the York Hall on 13 October 2007, scoring a first round KO. On 15 December 2007 just over a year since losing to Mathews, Foster challenged Scotsman Alex Arthur
for the interim version of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title up at super featherweight. Despite pushing Arthur all the way, the fight at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh
resulted in a second career defeat for Foster losing once more on points.
at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke
and Aleksander Vakhtangashvili at the Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield
, before on 2 October 2010 traveling to Bolton to fight at the De Vere Whites Hotel in a contest for the European super featherweight title. Fosters opponent, the Russian Levan Kirakosyan, had a reputation for winning in the UK and had already beaten the Carl Johanneson
twice and on his last visit won the title against Scott Lawton
. Signalling his return to the top of British boxing Foster defeated Kirakosyan with a third round stoppage to lift the title.
. Speaking after the fight Foster said that he had been suffering from a virus saying "I thought to myself, 'yeah, I can do it, I've got a week to recover'. And with the training I did - I didn't want to throw anything away, I just wanted to soldier on".
Super Featherweight
Super featherweight is a weight division in professional boxing. The maximum weight for this division is 130 pounds or 59 kilograms....
division. He is the former European super featherweight champion and is a former holder of the English and WBU titles at featherweight.
Early professional career
Foster's professional debut came on 15 September 2001 with a four round points win over Andrew Greenway at the MEN Arena in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. Over the rest of 2001 and during the next two years Foster fought on thirteen more occasions and winning each time competing in places such as London, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dagenham and Manchester to build up an unbeaten record of 14-0 at the end of 2003. On 26 February 2004 in his first fight of the new year, Foster defeated the unbeaten Sean Hughes at the Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
to win the English featherweight title with a sixth round stoppage. A win over Frenchman Jean-Marie Codet followed before on 1 October 2004, Foster returned to the MEN Arena to defeat Gary Thornhill in the ninth round to make his first successful defence of the title.
WBU champion
Boasting a record of 17-0 and English champion, Foster begun 2005 with a challenge for the World Boxing Union (WBU) featherweight title on 11 February. The fight, once more at the MEN Arena, resulted in a 10th round victory for Foster over the Colombian Livinson Ruiz. On 16 July 2005, Foster won a non-title fight against Jim Betts at the Bolton ArenaBolton Arena
The Bolton Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located at Middlebrook on the boundary between Horwich and Lostock in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, England....
and then in another non-title contest drew with Buster Dennis over eight rounds at the ExCeL London. On 1 April 2006, Foster made his first defence of the WBU title against John Simpson
John Simpson (boxer)
John Simpson , is a professional boxer. He is a featherweight, and current British Featherweight Champion. He is also the Former Commonwealth champion.-Professional career:...
at the York Hall
York Hall
The York Hall is a health and leisure centre and one of Britain's best known boxing venues.The venue is situated on Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green, London, England. The hall, opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, stages boxing as well as providing a gymnasium and swimming pool.The hall is owned...
, retaining with a decision over 12 rounds. An early stoppage of Frederic Bonifai in another non-title clash followed before making his second defence of the title on 14 October 2006. Returning to the MEN Arena, Foster suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of then unbeaten Derry Mathews
Derry Mathews
Derry Mathews is an English lightweight boxer and former holder of the English and WBU Featherweight titles. As an amateur he won the 2002 ABA Bantamweight championship.-Professional career:...
, losing the title on points over 12 rounds.
Comeback and World title challenge
Foster returned to the ring on on 14 July 2007, stopping Wladimir Borov in the third round at The O2 ArenaThe O2 arena (London)
The O2 Arena is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in the centre of The O2, a large entertainment complex on the Greenwich peninsula in London, England.With a capacity of up to 20,000 depending on the event, it is second largest...
and followed this up by once more beating the Frenchman Jean-Marie Codet at the York Hall on 13 October 2007, scoring a first round KO. On 15 December 2007 just over a year since losing to Mathews, Foster challenged Scotsman Alex Arthur
Alex Arthur
Alex Arthur, nicknamed "Amazing" Alex Arthur, is a professional boxer from Edinburgh in Scotland.Arthur is a former British, Commonwealth, European Boxing Union and WBO super featherweight champion...
for the interim version of the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title up at super featherweight. Despite pushing Arthur all the way, the fight at the Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
resulted in a second career defeat for Foster losing once more on points.
European champion
Only one fight in the next two years on 31 October 2008, resulted in Foster scoring a win over the journeyman Jason Nesbitt before returning to the ring on 15 January 2010 to defeat the Georgian boxer Kakhaber Avetisian at the Altrincham Leisure Centre. Two more wins in 2010 followed against Youssef Al HamidiYoussef Al Hamidi
Youssef Al Hamidi is a Syrian boxer who was a decorated amateur in the Syrian army and is now a professional boxer in the UK-Amateur career:...
at the Fenton Manor Sports Complex in Stoke
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
and Aleksander Vakhtangashvili at the Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, before on 2 October 2010 traveling to Bolton to fight at the De Vere Whites Hotel in a contest for the European super featherweight title. Fosters opponent, the Russian Levan Kirakosyan, had a reputation for winning in the UK and had already beaten the Carl Johanneson
Carl Johanneson
Carl Johanneson is super featherweight boxer. His nickname, "Ingemar" is a nod to the famous Swedish boxer Ingemar Johansson and is the nephew of former Leeds United player Albert Johanneson...
twice and on his last visit won the title against Scott Lawton
Scott Lawton (boxer)
Scott Lawton is an English professional boxer who has competed in the lightweight and super featherweight divisions. He comes from Stoke-on-Trent, is a two time English lightweight champion and has challenged for the full British and Commonwealth lightweight titles as well as the full European...
. Signalling his return to the top of British boxing Foster defeated Kirakosyan with a third round stoppage to lift the title.
Loss of European title
On 26th February 2011 Foster fought Belgian fighter Ermanno Fegatelli. Foster started well and appeared to be in good shape for the first seven rounds but began to fade as Fegatelli took control and started landing a series of damaging body shots. In the 9th Fegatelli hit Foster in the stomach which forced him down. Foster was down a further 3 times in the 10th round all due to body shots. The fight finished 110-114 109-114 109-114 in favor of the challenger and new champion Ermano FegatilliErmano Fegatilli
Ermano Fegatilli is a Belgium-based Italian boxer.He is the current European Boxing Union Super Featherweight champion.-Personal life:...
. Speaking after the fight Foster said that he had been suffering from a virus saying "I thought to myself, 'yeah, I can do it, I've got a week to recover'. And with the training I did - I didn't want to throw anything away, I just wanted to soldier on".