British Scene: Leva Kirakosyan vs Stephen Foster Preview

Dave Oakes previews Saturday's European 130lb title clash between Leva Kirakosyan and Stephen Foster.

Stephen Foster Jnr, 27-2-1 (KO17), finally gets the chance he’s been waiting for this Saturday night when he takes on Leva Kirakosyan for the Armenian’s European super-featherweight title.

Big things were expected of Foster when he turned pro in 2001; he’d had a good amateur career and was already a recognisable name around the boxing scene, which was also partly due to his father’s exploits.

I think it’s fair to say his career hasn’t gone the way he’d have wished. He was making steady progress until being defeated by Derry Matthews late in 2006, losing on points after a lacklustre performance – the result of trouble making the featherweight limit.

He regrouped after the defeat, moved up in weight and found himself challenging for the WBO interim title against Alex Arthur just three fights later. Whilst he lost via a close points decision, Foster produced an impressive performance and was expected to build on it.

Unfortunately he only had one fight in the following two years; his career looked to be petering out. That brought a change of promoters, Foster moving to Hatton Promotions, who’ve kept him busy with three fights this year before securing him this title shot against the big punching champion.

Kirakosyan, 33-5 (KO22), is no stranger to British fight fans, he’s fought over here four times previously – suffering a stoppage loss against Michael Gomez, twice defeating Carl Johanneson and brutally finishing the career of Scott Lawton to win the European belt.

This will be the second defence of Kirakosyan’s second reign as champion. He won’t be bothered about being the away fighter and has obviously got massive knockout power; however, he is very raw technically, has poor footwork and can be caught square on, which a well schooled boxer like Foster should be able to take advantage of.

Kirakosyan has said his experience will be decisive and he’ll finish Foster inside six rounds. He’s certainly got the power to knockout any boxer if he hits them clean but Foster has shown he’s got a solid chin and should be technically good enough, as well as experienced enough, not to get drawn into a brawl early on.

Kirakosyan is the clear betting favourite but I feel Foster is being massively underestimated. He’s the superior boxer in all departments except punch power, though he does hit hard himself, especially with the left hook.

The first four rounds should shape the fight; if Foster can get through them without taking too many hurtful shots then I feel the fight is there for the taking for him. Kirakosyan fades late in fights, and rumours of his struggle to make the weight will only worsen that deficiency. I believe that Foster will finish the stronger of the two to take a points victory, although he may have to come through a ferocious onslaught in the opening rounds to do so.

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