Shakur Stevenson Could Face Robson Conceicao in Hometown Title Defense
Unified junior lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) is fast becoming a hot commodity in the sport. His talent is immense, and the 24-year-old southpaw is not shy about expressing an opinion about himself or other fighters. Because of that, fans and pundits look forward to who he will fight next.
We now have a clue as far as his immediate plans. According to ESPN, Stevenson will fight again on September 23 in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, with former featherweight world title challenger Robson Conceicao (17-1, 8 KOs) as the likely opponent.
BATTLE OF OLYMPIC MEDALISTS?
In his last outing, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist scored a dominant win over previously unbeaten and then-WBC 130-pound champ Oscar Valdez in April 2022 to become the unified junior lightweight champ. Fans and boxing purists rave about Stevenson’s boxing ability and what heights he can reach. He has options not only at 130 but also at 135 and has expressed an interest in eventually moving up in weight to fight the current WBA Regular champ, Gervonta Davis.
But in a potential bout with Conceicao, he would face someone who is far from easy work. A 2016 Olympic gold medalist, Conceicao gained the attention of many with his strong performance against then-WBC champ Valdez in September 2021.
Controversy clouded the contest as Valdez tested positive for a banned substance yet was still allowed to defend the title. On fight night, plenty of pundits and fans felt Conceicao did enough to have his hand raised in victory. But it was Valdez who escaped with a questionable unanimous decision win. Conceicao responded to that setback with a decisive win over previously unbeaten Xavier Martinez in his last outing in January 2022.
A match between Stevenson and Conceicao would be a battle of wits. If you’re a fan of the art of boxing, you would likely be interested in this match and who would win out in a battle of boxing IQ. Negotiations for a fight between Stevenson and Conceicao are ongoing, but signs are positive a deal will get done. Stay tuned to 3Kings Boxing for further updates
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
