O’Shaquie Foster regained the WBC super featherweight world title, but it proved to be far more challenging than expected. Brazilian Robson Conceicao turned out to be a tough, tenacious opponent, ultimately succumbing only by Split Decision after a match full of tightly contested rounds that were difficult to judge. In the end, the American fighter’s technical superiority made the difference, allowing him to prevail on two scorecards and reclaim his champion status. The official scores were 113-115, 115-113, 115-113.
Those who anticipated a repeat of the fight from four months ago were certainly surprised, as the dynamics of this rematch were quite different, and the level of excitement was much higher. This time, much to the fans’ delight, the two boxers engaged in an intense and entertaining bout.
In their July matchup, Foster had employed his usual patient, conservative style, spending most of the fight on the back foot and landing only the few punches needed to catch the judges’ eye. This strategy was effective according to most observers, though not to two of the official judges, who favored Conceicao’s relatively fruitless aggression.
Remembering the outcome from last time, Foster set out from the very beginning to claim the center of the ring, relying on the element of surprise. He even sought to throw off the champion by fighting the second round entirely from a southpaw stance.
Conceicao, however, was undeterred. Starting from the third round, he began to gain the upper hand with a superior work rate and excellent body shots. Foster, after a strong start, lost ground as his pressure wasn’t accompanied by enough offensive action, highlighting the Brazilian’s greater effectiveness.
However, a solid right hook to the temple early in the fifth round shifted the match’s momentum again. Conceicao visibly felt the punch and clinched desperately to recover, while Foster seized the opportunity to take control.
Although Foster didn’t pursue the KO with relentless determination, he drew strength from the favorable turn, taking firm command. For nearly three rounds, he delivered one of his best performances, showing aggression, brilliance, and a skillful variety of trajectories and punch types.
Robson Conceicao, though, did not give up. Starting late in the seventh round, he found effective adjustments. Realizing that going toe-to-toe would likely result in a loss due to the precision and speed gap, he began using the entire ring, moving on his feet and using his jab effectively as a barrier.
Forced to chase a moving target, Foster lost some of his rhythm, becoming less effective and less confident. But once again, his right hand proved to be the key, reenergizing the fight.
Just as Conceicao seemed poised to close the fight on a high note, a beautifully timed hook from Foster caught him off guard with a minute left in the tenth round, momentarily making him stagger. Foster’s killer instinct wasn’t particularly sharp, though, as there was no real sense that a KO was imminent in the following seconds. Still, it was enough to shift the fight’s momentum again.
A visibly fatigued Conceicao resorted to frequent clinching in the final two rounds. Despite the challenger clearly having more energy left, the Brazilian never stopped pushing for the win, charging forward, pressing his opponent against the ropes, and giving his all in a last-ditch effort to sway the judges.
At the end of the fight, I scored two points in favor of O’Shaquie Foster, in line with judges Max DeLuca and Eric Marlinski, who decided the outcome. Judge Tom Schreck’s differing opinion, awarding Conceicao a narrow win, is nonetheless understandable, as several rounds were indeed hard to score.
Foster’s attempt to showcase a more proactive version of himself was not enough for a decisive victory. Ironically, many feel his win was more clear-cut and undisputed four months ago, despite his controversial title loss.
It seems clear that Foster lacks the DNA to dominate fights from the front foot or maintain constant aggression, at least not at the highest world level. In particular, his tendency to let opponents off the hook after staggering them stood out yesterday. It will be interesting to see if, in his next title defense, the Texan will return to the cautious, calculated boxing style that has defined him.
Finally, once again, praise is deserved for the former world champion Robson Conceicao, who, as he often has in his career, exceeded expectations, compensating for any shortcomings with grit, character, and experience that, on paper, should have condemned him to a decisive defeat. The Brazilian proved himself once again, showing he’s worthy of more high-profile opportunities.