Fast Results from Newark Where Shakur Conquered Conceicao

Shakur Stevenson had his WBC and WBO 130-pound titles stripped from him when he failed to make weight for tonight’s bout with Robson Conceicao and it cost him an estimated $75,000, the bulk going to sweeten Conceicao’s purse and the remainder the fine assessed by the New Jersey Athletic Commission. But Stevenson was nonplussed and went about his business before a homecoming crowd of 10,107, a record turnout for a boxing event at the Prudential Center.

In his final bout at 130 – Shakur is moving up into the talent-rich lightweight division – the 25-year-old southpaw turned in a masterclass against his Brazilian opponent, a three-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist. Working the body effectively, Shakur won ten rounds on two of the cards and 11 rounds on the other, prevailing by scores of 118-108 and 117-109 after having a point deducted in round nine for dumping Conceicao on the canvas with a hip toss.

There was one knockdown and it came with a second remaining in round four when Conceicao, in a delayed reaction, fell to the canvas after absorbing a sweeping left hook to the liver. The Brazilian wasn’t shy about throwing punches but Shakur, as is his custom, took the vast majority on his gloves. With the victory, the Newark native improved to 19-0 (9) and solidified his case as a fighter worthy of having his name on the pound-for-pound lists. It was the second pro loss for Conceicao (17-2) who gave Oscar Valdez a world of trouble in a losing effort in his first stab at a world title.

Co-Feature

Tokyo silver medalist Keyshawn Davis, a rising star in the lightweight division, turned in another impressive performance with a fifth-round stoppage of Mexican veteran Omar Tienda Bahena. The official time was 1:38.

Davis, a stablemate of Terence “Bud” Crawford, put Tienda on the canvas with a glancing right hand to the temple and then went for the kill when Tienda arose on unsteady legs. Referee Earl Brown waived the fight off as Tienda was being pummeled against the ropes. Davis improved to 6-0 (5). Tienda (25-6) had won seven straight coming in, albeit against soft opposition.

Other Bouts

The final fight of the ESPN+ live stream was a ho-hum 8-round junior lightweight affair between Puerto Rican southpaw Henry Lebron and San Jose’s Andy Vences. Lebron improved to 17-0 (10) with a unanimous decision (80-72, 79-73, 78-74) over skidding Vences (23-4-1) who lost for the fourth time in his last five starts.

In an upset, 26-year-old Denver featherweight Misael Lopez scored a unanimous 8-round decision over Puerto Rico’s Orlando Gonzalez. This was an entertaining fight marked by a lusty final round. Lopez, who is co-managed by Jamel Herring, improved to 14-1, 1 ND). It was the second fight back for Gonzalez (18-2) following his previous setback in which he extended Robeisy Ramirez the distance in a 10-round fight.

Long Island welterweight Jahi Tucker, a 19-year-old teenager, improved to 9-0 (5) in his first 8-rounder, winning a unanimous decision over durable but outclassed Albuquerque campaigner Jose Luis Sanchez (11-4-1). The judges had it 79-73 and 80-72 twice.

Brooklyn featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington improved to 5-0 (3) with an easy 6-round decision over Puerto Rico’s Jose Argel (9-5). Carrington hurt his right hand in the fourth round and scarcely used it from that point on, but yet won every round on all three cards.

At age 39, heavy-handed New York super welterweight Pablo Valdez will never ascend to the level of a top contender, but after stopping Noe Lopez, a 36-year-old Texan, Valdez is well on his way to reaching his goal of leaving the sport with a 10-0 mark.

Valdez, who spent four years in solitary during an 8-year, drug-related prison stint, scored three knockdowns en route to a fourth-round stoppage, advancing his record to  7-0 (6). He scored the third knockdown with a sweeping left hand to the liver. Lopez fell to his knees, splitting out his mouthpiece, and referee Shada Murdaugh waived it off. The official time was 2:45 of round four. Lopez, who brought an 11-6-1 record, was stopped for the fifth time.

In a 6-round junior featherweight match, 19-year-old Las Vegas native Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz advanced to 7-0 with a unanimous decision over 18-year-old Mexican Juan Hernandez (2-2-1) who came back from a knockdown in round three to make things interesting. The judges had it 59-54 and 58-55 twice.

The 4-round welterweight match between Antoine Cobb (1-0-2) and Jaylan Phillips (1-2-2) ended in a draw. One of the judges gave Cobb every round, but the decision was fair. This was a rematch of their April 4 go which likewise ended in a draw.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

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