Shakur Stevenson vs Robson Conceicao – Results & Post-Fight Report

Shakur Stevenson scored a fourth round knockdown, and then took a wide points win as he dominated Robson Conceicao at the Prudential Centre in New Jersey.

There were world titles up for grabs, but only for Conceicao, as Stevenson lost the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles on the scales at the weigh in, coming in over a pound over the limit, and he refused to try to come inside 130 pounds.

Stevenson had added the WBC belt to his WBO one in his last fight, a masterful points win over Oscar Valdez. 2016 Olympic Gold medallist Conceicao had unsuccessfully challenged Valdez for the WBC strap last year, but did take the unbeaten record of Xavier Martinez in a points win back in January.

This one was always expected to be a technical affair, but Stevenson (19-0, KO9) stamped his authority quickly, using speed and movement to land some quick and sharp left hands in the opener. After a more competitive second round, Stevenson started to concentrate on the body of his opponent, and that tactic worked wonders a round later. In the fourth, after Conceicao (17-2, KO8) decided to up the ante, he was stopped in his tracks by a left hand, and a body shot followed by a left to the head had the Brazilian on the canvas, although it looked like more of a slip, but on closer inspection, the body shot had done the damage. The referee didn’t count at the time, but ruled a knockdown at the end of the frame.

Conceicao was trying to be competitive, but Stevenson was just a step ahead at all times, and after shading the fifth, Stevenson wobbled Conceicao in the sixth with yet another left hand, and his jab was also causing the visitor no end of problems. Conceicao kept trying, and a hip toss from Stevenson lost him a point in round nine to at least give the challenger a share of a round, and as the fight went into the championship rounds, Stevenson was ahead by a street. The penultimate round saw more punishment dished out, and Conceicao was stunned again by a hard left uppercut, and another left hand hurt him towards the end of the round. The final session saw yet another dominant one from 25-year-old Stevenson, and as the contest went to the bell, the result was academic.

Two scores of 117-109, and a third of 118-108 reflected Stevenson’s dominance, and he now moves up to lightweight.

On the undercard, Henry Lebron (17-0, KO10) remained perfect as a pro, as the Puerto Rican took an eight round points win against Andy Vences (23-4-1, KO12) at super featherweight by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 78-74.

Keyshawn Davis (6-0, KO5) also remained flawless, as he dropped and stopped Omar Tienda Bahena (25-6, KO18) in the fifth of their lightweight eight rounder.

Jahi Tucker (9-0, KO5) enjoyed a near shutout against Jose Luis Sanchez (11-3-1, KO4) at welterweight, winning by two scores of 80-72, and a third at 79-73, while at featherweight, Misael Lopez (14-1, KO5) took an eight round decision win against Orlando Gonzalez (18-2, KO11) by scores of 79-73, 78-74 and 77-75.

In six round action, Bruce Carrington (5-0, KO3) took al six rounds at featherweight against Jose Argel (9-5, KO3), and Floyd Diaz (7-0, KO2) dropped Juan Hernandez Martinez (2-2-1, KO0) in the third round of their super bantamweight contest, before taking a points win. Pablo Valdez (7-0, KO6) dropped Noe Alejandro Lopez (11-6-1, KO4) multiple times before scoring a fourth round win at super welterweight.

The sole four rounder came at welterweight, where Antoine Cobb (1-0-2, KO1) and Jaylan Philips (1-2-2, KO1) again couldn’t be separated in their rematch, as they fought to another draw.