O’Shaquie Foster vs Robson Conceicao Preview July 6th, 2024
WBC Junior Lightweight Champion O’Shaquie Foster of Orange, Texas defends the belt for the third time when he takes on Robson Conceicao of Brazil this Saturday, July 6th. The 12-rounder from Newark, New Jersey can be seen live in America on the ESPN platform while fans in the UK and Ireland can catch it on Sky Sports Action. Foster last saw action in February when he edged Abraham Nova by a split decision. Foster rallied to stop Eduardo Hernandez with 22 seconds left in the fight while on two judge’s scorecards last October in his first defence after beating Rey Vargas by a comfortable unanimous decision to win the vacant belt eight months earlier. Conceicao last fought in April when he halted Jose Ortiz in the seventh round.
Foster vs Conceicao Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Robson Conceicao +165
- O’Shaquie Foster -205
My Pick
The 30-year-old Foster climbs through the ropes with a mark of 22-2 with 12 Ko’s and has boxed 146 rounds since making his pro debut in 2012. He enjoyed a fine amateur career and made it to the 2007 National Silver Gloves Final in the 12/13-year-old division and reached the 2010 USA Junior National Championship Semifinal but lost a couple of times to Joseph Diaz and was also beaten by Oscar Valdez.
As a pro, Foster also captured the WBC Silver Super Featherweight Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jon Fernandez in 2018 and took the vacant WBA Fedecentro Super Featherweight Belt in 2019 when he stopped Jesus Bravo in the eighth round. He also has wins over Miguel Roman, Alberto Mercado and Fatiou Fassinou. His defeats came at the hands of Samuel Teah by eight-round unanimous decision in 2015 and to Rolando Chinea via an eight-round split decision a year later.
Foster stands just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 72-inch reach and as far as power goes, 54.6 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He’s currently riding a 12-fight winning streak but has gone the distance in six of those contests prior to stopping Hernandez last October, with his previous stoppage win coming in November, 2020 when he halted Miguel Roman in the ninth round.
The 35-year-old Conceicao is best known for his draw with Emanuel Navarrete last November; his 2022 defeat to Shakur Stevenson when he dropped a 12-round unanimous decision for the vacant WBC and WBO Super Featherweight Belts; his controversial unanimous-decision loss to Oscar Valdez in 2021 in a shot at the WBC Super Featherweight Crown and for winning a gold medal at the 2018 Olympics in Brazil as a lightweight. He also competed at the 2012 Olympics in England where he was beaten by Josh Taylor in his first contest and fought at the 2008 games in China where he was also beaten in his first fight.
In addition, Conceicao competed in several World Amateur Championships and dropped a close decision to Vasyl Lomachenko in 2011. He’s built a record of 18-2-1 as a pro with 9 Ko’s and has average power in his fists as 50 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage. He’s also gone the distance in five of his last seven fights. Conceicao stands just over 5-feet-10 inches tall with a 70-inch reach for a two inch height advantage on Foster while giving up two inches in reach and has boxed 129 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016.
Conceicao’s fights against top-notch competition as a pro were against Navarrete, Stevenson and Valdez and he fell just short but arguably could have earned the decision Navarrete and against Valdez despite being docked a point in the ninth round for hitting the champion behind the head. The Brazilian’s biggest wins so far have been against the likes of Xavier Martinez, Luis Coria, Carlos Ruiz, Edgar Cantu, Joey Laviolette and Eduardo Pereira Dos Reis. He has a decent chin but was dropped in the second round by Coria in 2020 and was also dropped by Navarrete.
Prediction…
The slick-boxing Foster had to dig down deep in his win over Hernandez last year as he was about to lose his title on the scorecards. Give him credit for that but many fans were surprised to see him struggle so much against his opponent and his raw power. Foster’s chin held up though. As far as Conceicao is concerned, this could very well be his last shot at a world title and he’s come close before but just couldn’t get over the hump. This could go either way but I just have a feeling that Conceicao’s speed and skills are a match for Foster and Conceicao will finally become a world beltholder in a mild upset.
Conceicao has the skills and speed to win the belt.
Play: Conceicao +165 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
O'Shaquie Foster betting • Robson Conceicao betting