Shakur Stevenson vs. Robson Conceição: Fight Odds, Live Stream, Predictions
Shakur Stevenson is set to fight Robson Conceição on Friday night, but he won't be doing it as a world champion.
Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) was stripped of the WBC and WBO super featherweight titles after failing to make the 130-pound weight limit Thursday. He weighed in at 131.6 pounds, while Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) tipped the scales at 129.6 pounds.
Despite the prospect of losing his titles and also potentially having the fight called off, Stevenson declined to make another attempt at getting under the weight limit.
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The 25-year-old explained his decision on Twitter, citing his health and a planned move to the lightweight division:
The two sides were able to come to a purse agreement to keep the fight alive, per ESPN's Mike Coppinger. For Stevenson, Friday's contest is simply a chance to showcase his skills against a tough veteran opponent. He cannot regain the titles with a win.
Conceição, 33, is still eligible to claim the belts if he scores an upset.
Stevenson vs. Conceição Fight Info
When: Friday, Sept. 23 at 10 p.m. ET (main card)
Where: Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey
TV: ESPN (US), Sky Sports (UK)
Live stream: ESPN+
Odds: Stevenson -1700 (bet $1,700 to win $100), Conceição + 900 (bet $100 to win $900)
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Preview, Predictions
As expected, Stevenson is a heavy favorite to win on Friday. The inability to make weight would be cause for alarm in many cases, but he has been teasing a move to 135 pounds for months now. This failure on the scales might not signal a lack of preparation like it does in so many other cases.
Even so, the New Jersey native can't afford to be overconfident. He still has an undefeated record to protect, and he'll want to impress against Conceição so that he can send a message to the star-studded lightweight division, which includes Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr., among others.
If Stevenson's last fight is any indication, he should be able to handle whatever Conceição throws at him.
In April, the southpaw dominated Oscar Valdez over 12 rounds to retain his unified titles. His defense was excellent against the aggressive Mexican, as he snuffed out attacks with ease and lined up his countershots.
He also did well on offense, scoring a knockdown in the sixth round and using his length and speed to pick apart Valdez. For the methodical, risk-averse Stevenson, it was one of his more entertaining outings.
Conceição fought Valdez in September 2019, losing a controversial decision. While some felt the Brazilian deserved a win, it wasn't a dominant, wire-to-wire display like the one Stevenson put together. He started off the match brightly, but the later rounds were muddied.
It seems Stevenson has done his homework, as he's expecting a similar pattern on Friday.
“I think his weakness is he has more of an amateur style, where he’s a front-runner," he told Anson Wainwright of The Ring. "I think he starts off fast, but as the fight goes on, he slows down and then I’ll take over. I don’t think he can do anything to stop me. I think it’s a great fight, but I’m on a whole different level."
Conceição, a 2016 Olympic gold medalist, believes Stevenson isn't fully aware of his capabilities and is looking past him.
“Shakur is definitely underestimating me,” he said through a translator, per Keith Idec of Boxing Scene. “That’s gonna be the biggest mistake of his career, underestimating a man like me, who’s really willing and hungry to win. He never really faced anyone like me, an athlete of this caliber, and that’s gonna be his downfall.”
There is indeed a chance Stevenson isn't completely focused on this fight given the failure to make weight and his focus on transitioning to lightweight. But as long as he's at least close to his peak, he should be able to win this fight, even if he has to slow things down and make it boring.
Conceição is a tough, smart boxer, but he lacks the kind of power that might give other fighters an edge against the American.
With the backing of a hometown crowd and a spotless record to protect, look for Stevenson to safely navigate a tough first few rounds before taking control and winning the fight handily on the cards.
Prediction: Stevenson by unanimous decision
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