Bob Arum’s Top Rank promote a card at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with Brazil’s Robson Conceicao in action in the main event over twelve rounds against unbeaten Californian prospect, Xavier Martinez, live on ESPN and Sky Sports.
Conceicao vs Martinez serves as an eliminator for the WBC super featherweight title, currently held by Oscar Valdez, whom the former will be seeking a rematch against with victory.
The first Brazilian Olympic boxing Gold medalist, Conceicao (16-1, 8 KOs) had made serene progress as a professional after turning over following his success at the Rio 2016 games.
He did however, have to get up off the floor, and was deducted two points for low blows before taking a tight ten round points win against Luis Corea at the back end of 2020.
After a routine seventh round win against Jesus Ahumada Arce in April 2021, the 33-year-old earned a shot at the WBC super featherweight crown, where he would meet big punching Mexican, Oscar Valdez, who was fresh off a knockout win over Miguel Berchelt.
Conceicao was spirited in his efforts, but came up short on the cards, as Valdez retained.
‘Nino’ now gets another chance to move closer to another crack at the belt, with Martinez (17-0, 11 KOs) standing in his way.
The 24-year-old has steadily been building a solid record, but he too was gut-checked in October 2020, having to get up off the canvas twice before shading Claudio Marrero on the cards.
His last assignment was in May last year, taking a clear decision win over ten against former world title challenger, Juan Carlos Burgos.
Prediction: Conceicao had his moments against Valdez, and will want to rebuild momentum to move a step nearer to another world title tilt. Martinez is still green, and I think that gives the Brazilian the edge, and he should come through handsomely on the scorecards.
Tellez meets Melendez
A lightweight ten rounder is the chief support here, and Mexico’s Juan Rene Tellez (16-1, 10 KOs) is in with Miami-based Puerto Rican, Luis Melendez (17-1, 13 KOs).
Prediction: The two are well matched, but I favour Melendez to shade it on the cards.
Ali Walsh returns
Nico Ali Walsh (3-0, 2 KOs) squeezed past Reyes Sanchez via majority decision last time out, and the middleweight should get past Jeremiah Yeager (1-1-1, 1 KO) over four rounds.
Milton returns
Heavyweight prospect, Jeremiah Milton (3-0, 3 KOs) features on his second Top Rank card and will face a new opponent with scheduled opponent, Jason Bergman out.
Shaw faces Dawejko
Unbeaten St Louis heavyweight, Stephan Shaw (15-0, 11 KOs) is in action, and the 29-year-old, ‘Big Shot’ should have too much for Joey Dawejko (21-9-4, 12 KOs) over a scheduled eight.
Prediction: Dawejko has only been stopped twice though, so it’s likely Shaw may need the distance to take victory.
Remaining Undercard
Unbeaten lightweight, Giovanni Cabrera (18-0, 7 KOs) can take a win before the eight round distance against Rafael Reyes (20-13, 16 KOs), a man stopped eight times in thirteen losses.
Delante Johnson (1-0, 1 KO), a quarter finalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, makes his second pro appearance, and the welterweight can stop fellow unbeaten, Xavier Madrid (3-0, 1 KO), inside schedule of their four rounder.
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Bruce Carrington (1-0) makes his Top Rank debut, and he should take a points win over Steven Brown (1-0, 1 KO) at featherweight.
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Kalliopi ‘Pink Tyson’ Kourouni (11-2, KO2) is a colourful character on a run of two straight wins, and she should come through after eight rounds against Carla Torres (6-6).
