Oscar Valdez vs Robson Conceicao – Results & Post Fight Report

Oscar Valdez made a successful first defence of his WBC super featherweight title, as he negotiated a difficult contest with Robson Conceicao after a slow start, coming through via unanimous decision at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona.

The contest was shrouded in controversy, with Valdez returning two adverse drug test samples ahead of the fight, but the WBC decided to allow Valdez to box, and defend his title, subject to completion of public appearances and a rehabilitation programme. Valdez won the belt in February with an impressive tenth round knockout of Miguel Berchelt. Conceicao was a 2016 Olympic Gold medallist, and was making his first foray into world title class.

The Brazilian made a great start in this one, establishing his jab and marking Valdez early on as he connected with a combination and a left hook to the body in the second. Valdez landed a big right hand at the start of the third, but back came the visitor, a counter left hook catching the champion. Conceicao was causing Valdez all sorts of problems, and by round five, he was bruised and was being outworked overwhelmed by his opponent. Valdez did start to wake from his slumber, and rounds six and seven were much better sessions for him, closing the distance enough for him to apply sustained attacks to head and body.

Conceicao had a point taken away for hitting behind the head in the ninth, but going into the championship rounds, it felt as though the fight was up for grabs. It was a lively final three frames, and the visitor, who had never been past ten rounds previously, was certainly feeling the pace, and he found himself initiating several clinches in the final round. Valdez was certainly the aggressor, and finished strongly to overcome his slow start to the bout.

Two scores of 115-112, and a third at 117-110 confirmed victory for the home fighter, and he moves closer to a potential unification fight with the winner of the upcoming WBO title clash between Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson.

Gabriel Flores Jr‘s unbeaten record went up in smoke, as Luis Alberto Lopez scored an upset unanimous decision win over ten rounds at super featherweight. 21-year-old Flores Jr was dominated by his Mexican opponent, and two scores of 100-90, and a third at 98-92 reflected that.

At flyweight, Junto Nakatani defended his WBO title for the first time, as he stopped Angel Acosta in the fourth round. Acosta’s nose stemmed a lot of blood, and he was examined at regular intervals. In the fourth, the officials decided that the blood flow was too much, and with just over thirty seconds of the round gone, the contest was called to a halt.

Juan Rene Tellez knocked out Eduardo Garza in seven rounds at lightweight, while at super lightweight, Omar Alejandro Aguilar scored a second round knockout of Carlos Manuel Portillo. At welterweight, Lindolfo Delgado halted Miguel Zamudio in two rounds, and Xander Zayas took all six rounds in his super welterweight encounter with Jose Luis Sanchez.