“Navarrete-Foster is unquestionably one of the most significant and compelling matchups that can be made in the 130-pound division,” Olivieri stated on X.

The matter went before the WBO Championship Committee because Suarez is waiting for the rematch he has strong reason to believe should have already happened.

His May 2025 fight with Navarrete ended after seven completed rounds when a cut over Navarrete’s left eye was ruled to have resulted from an accidental head clash. That sent the fight to the scorecards, where Navarrete received a technical decision.

Video evidence later showed that a legal Suarez punch caused the cut. Had it been ruled correctly during the fight, Suarez would have won by stoppage and taken the WBO title. The California State Athletic Commission later changed the result to a no contest, and the WBO ordered a rematch.

Suarez then had to wait while Navarrete faced Eduardo Nunez in February to claim the IBF belt. Allowing Navarrete to fight Foster means Suarez gets bypassed for a second consecutive unification.

At 38, Suarez also lacks the luxury of time. A Navarrete-Foster fight in October, followed by recovery and negotiations, could push his title shot well into 2027.

Those are strong arguments for enforcing the mandatory. The business side still favors Foster.

Foster brings greater promotional value to a fight with Navarrete, particularly with the U.S. audience. He stays active on social media, gives frequent interviews, and has greater visibility among American boxing fans.

Suarez offers very little on the promotional side. The Filipino contender is dangerous in the ring, but Navarrete and the promoter would have to carry most of the promotion in a return bout.

There is also serious competitive risk in forcing Navarrete to face Suarez first.

Suarez gave Navarrete major problems in their first meeting. Ordering the mandatory bout does not merely delay Foster. It threatens to eliminate the unification completely.

If Suarez beats Navarrete, the three-belt clash disappears. The WBO would enforce its mandatory but lose the biggest fight currently available in the division.

The practical fix satisfies both sides. The WBO can approve Navarrete against Foster while guaranteeing Suarez a shot at the winner. That does not erase the frustration for Suarez, but it protects his title shot while allowing the division to stage the bigger fight first.

Olivieri made it clear that the unification will receive serious consideration.

“Unifications always constitute a significant element for consideration. We will see what the Committee resolves,” Olivieri stated.

The Foster bout is targeted for October 24 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Giving it the green light allows the WBO to participate in a three-belt unification without removing Suarez from the title picture.