By: Sean Crose
Shakur Stevenson takes on the role of Robson Conceicao in a twelfth round main event tonight at the Prudential Center of Newark, New Jersey. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+ starting at 10 p.m. ET. Stevenson 18-0 was supposed to defend his WBO and WBC lightweight titles, but was stripped of those belts yesterday when he made it clear he can’t or won’t lose 1 ,6 pounds needed to maintain his belt ownership. Conceicao 17-1, on the other hand, could own those belts if he beats Stevenson tonight.
The fact that conceicao won the gold medal in 2016 is no joke. One of his losses was Oscar Valdez and not everyone was comfortable thinking that the umpires awarded the right person that night. As for Stevenson, he has been feisty (until yesterday at least), unifying the titles he has now been stripped of only last April when he was the best Valdez let down Conceicao. his only defeat. Stevenson has made it clear he will switch to lightweight later this evening. He may be the most beloved player in his hometown (he’s from Newark anyway), but it would be a career success if Conceicao steps out of the ring with the WBC and WBO belts tonight. .
