Newark, NJ–Hours after breaking the venue’s highest attendance record for a boxing match, the energy of 10,107 spectators at Jersey’s own Prudential Center was beyond magnetic. Fans throughout the Tri-State witnessed another superior performance by brick city’s own Shakur Stevenson (18-0, 9KO) against Brazil’s Robson Conceicao (17-1, 8KO) for what was supposed to be the Unified Junior Lightweight Championship courtesy of Top Rank Boxing.
Though failing to make his 130 pound weight being stripped of both WBC and WBO Junior Lightweight titles, the twenty-five year old Southpaw still put on a show taking on the thirty-year old Olympic Gold Medalist for a 12-round showdown in front of his charged hometown fan base.
Getting a good early start, Conceicao was able to land some jabs and body shots but things quickly took a turn in the second round when Shakur got in his stance letting off a three punch combo and a left hook jolting the unorthodox fighter later landing a hard left upper cut in the third.
Taking “Nino” off his game, the young stallion maintained his momentum knocking the two-time Super featherweight world title challenger down on the canvas with a delayed reaction from a left lower body shot to the torso that put the entire arena in a frenzy after Conceicao landed a right hook in the fourth. There was the point of no return for the Brazilian contender.
Showing no effects behind Conceicao’s shots to the face, Stevenson kept working his opponent with body shots and blows making Robson visibly off balance ultimately gaining the 12-round defeat scoring twice 117-109, 118-108 by unanimous decision in front of a sold-out crowd.
“I had a long week. I killed myself to make weight. All I want to do is come in here and perform. I did everything I could to do that. I’m just a dominating individual. With me versus him, the ref, I did everything I could to try and beat {Conceicao} up as much as I could. He held me the whole night, but I did everything I could.”
“We gotta fight the champ. Me and Devin {Haney}, we could lock in. After he fights Kambosos, let’s get it on. I’ll fight Lomachenko, too!” said the Jersey native.
Looking to regain his titles, Stevenson seems hungry and focused than ever to get it in with whomever the next competitor will be for another shot at wining back the WBC and WBO Junior Lightweight titles and eagerly moving up his division.
