Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster have battled to two split-decision’s within the last four months, with this weekend’s showdown for the WBC super-featherweight strap levelling the scores. Still, despite sharing 24 rounds with the American, Conceicao is not yet ready to move on just yet.
A Rio 2016 silver medallist, ‘Nino’ had failed in three attempts at world honours prior to his meeting with Foster back in July and the Brazilian seemed destined to finish his career as a ‘nearly-man’ as the now 36-year-old assumable edged towards the twilight of his career.
However, Conceicao was the beneficiary of one of 2024’s most controversial judging decisions when his hand was raised against Foster this summer, somehow claiming a split-decision win to finally be crowned as a world champion.
This weekend, Foster and Conceicao went toe-to-toe once again and in an ironically much more even affair, despite an improved performance from the champion this time around, it was Foster who was deemed to have done enough to reclaim the super-featherweight throne.
During the post-fight interview, Conceicao beamed with pride at his display and labelled it as one of his best performances, regardless of the fact that he lost his belt, as per Boxing News.
“I’m happy because I know what I did in the ring,”
“I know that I did a good job, so it’s no reason to be sad. … I think it’s one of my best performances. And I know that I did a good job. I trained really well for it. The fight was tough, and it was close, but I know that I did a good job.”
Additionally, the now 19-3-1 130lber from Bahia went on to call for a trilogy fight between he and Foster, hoping that the Texan would show the same willingness that was offered to him after their first encounter.
“If he accepts the rematch, just like I gave him the rematch, and I think he should show that same amount of respect, so we can do another fight. Right now, we’re still 1-1.”
Foster now holds wins over Robson Conceicao, Rey Vargas, ‘Rocky’ Hernandez and Abraham Nova and can arguably be considered as the main player in the super-featherweight division.
Yet, ‘Ice Water’ still has a long way to go if he is to truly stamp his authority on the weight-class and attempt to become the first undisputed super-featherweight champion since Hiroshi Kobayashi in 1969, requiring wins against fellow title-holders; Anthony Cacace (IBF), Emanuel Navarrete (WBO) and Lamont Roach Jr. (WBA) – all of whom have fights scheduled.
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