Robson Conceição, a Brazilian who’s not just handy with a pair of gloves but also happens to have Olympic gold in his back pocket, reckons it’s about time he struck gold again – but this time, in the pro ranks.
Now, on the bustling night of Thursday, Nov. 16, under the dazzling lights of T-Mobile Arena – that’s in the fighting capital of the world, Las Vegas. Conceição is gearing up for a scrap that could slap a world title belt around his waist. He’s squaring up against Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, the chap currently clutching the WBO junior lightweight world championship like it’s his lifeline.
Oh, and just for a bit of added entertainment, this little tussle is the appetizer to another fight – a vacant WBC lightweight title throwdown, with the crowd-pleaser Shakur Stevenson tangling with Edwin De Los Santos, a man who throws punches like he’s swatting flies.
If you can’t make it to Vegas because you’re stuck in traffic or your cat’s having an existential crisis, don’t fret. ESPN’s got you covered with live broadcasts, because nothing says Thursday night like watching a couple of grown men trying to rearrange each other’s facial features, right?
And wouldn’t you know it, this whole shebang is being peddled by Top Rank, with a little help from their buddies at Sampson Boxing. If you fancy being part of the noise, you can chuck your money at AXS.com for a ticket.
Conceição, with a record that reads like a decent night out (17-2, 8 KOs), burst onto the scene fresh off his Olympic triumph and jumped into the pro pool with a splash. He’s had a couple of cracks at the big time, coming up short against Oscar Valdez and then Stevenson, but the man’s got more determination than a bulldog chewing a thistle.
Navarrete, hailing from Mexico with more knockouts than I’ve had hot dinners (38-1, 31 KOs), is riding a win streak longer than a politician’s promise. The guy’s a three-division champ and isn’t looking to give up his shiny strap anytime soon.
Post-punching bag session, Conceição was all respect and confidence, saying he’s not just there to exchange pleasantries and definitely not there to play patty-cake. He’s after the title, and he’s sorry not sorry about it. He’s talking about bringing the belt back to Brazil for a shindig bigger than the one they threw when he brought home Olympic gold.