The wait wasn’t that long. Four months. O’Shaquie Foster didn’t have time to stand still. He needed to flush it out quickly as he would get a chance to reclaim the WBC junior lightweight title from Brazilian Robson Conceicao.
This time there was no dispute, no debate. Foster became a two-time titleholder with a split-decision win over the tough Conceicao on Saturday night from Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York.
Foster (23-3, 12 KOs) won it 115-113 on the scorecards of Max DeLuca and Eric Marlinski, who overcame Tom Schreck’s 115-113 scorecard for Conceicao.
This fight was significantly different from the first one, back in July. It was a snorefest. According to CompuBox, Conceicao landed just 10.8% of his punches (76 (27 body punches)/701), while Foster landed 25.1% (109 (20)/435), including 33.7% of his power punches (58 ( 14)/ 172).However, in seven of the 12 rounds, the fighters were separated by three or fewer landed punches.
This time, according to CompuBox, Robson Conceicao threw 565 punches and landed 27% of his punches. O’Shaquie Foster landed 34% of his power punches in their first fight. He landed 40% in the rematch (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank).
This time, according to CompuBox, Conceicao threw 565 punches and landed 27% of his punches. Foster landed 34% of his power punches in their first fight. He landed 40% in the rematch. The fighters were separated by three or fewer landed punches in six of the twelve rounds. Both fighters landed 10 power punches in the championship rounds in the first fight. This time, Foster landed 30 power punches over rounds 11 and 12, while Conceicao landed 18.
What’s more, the judges agreed in seven of the 12 rounds. The five rounds they disagreed on were the second (Conceicao 2-1), sixth (Foster 2-1), seventh (Conceicao 2-1), ninth (Foster 2-1) and 12th (Conceicao 2-1 ).
“(Conceicao) is a hell of a fighter, he’s got a big heart,” Foster said. “I told you I was going to step it up and bring it to him, and that was my goal. I’m still not satisfied with my performance, but I feel I’ve shown many people my versatility.
“When I thought he would fade, and I would break him down in certain places, he found a way to survive. Hats off to him.”
Foster wanted the rematch but didn’t seem to act on it through the first two rounds. Conceicao (19-3-1, 9 KOs) was the more active fighter and continued to use rights to the body, while Foster, who came out in a conventional stance in the first round, and a southpaw in the second, not as active.
After two, Conceicao looked like he had a two-round lead based on activity.
In the third, Foster went back to a conventional stance. It was Foster’s first quality round. Conceicao landed 72% of his shots to the body, but it was Foster who landed combinations and worked through Conceicao’s high guard, tapping his head a few times.
With 2:20 left in the fifth, it looked like Foster might have Conceicao in trouble, but it may have been more a case of him being off balance than anything Foster did. With 1:06 left in the round, Conceicao landed a wide, looping right. Conceicao was in rhythm, using his jab and snapping Foster’s head with clean punches.
Foster did nothing to counter Conceicao’s attack.
After five, Foster’s corner had him 3-2, everyone else might have had Conceicao 4-1 ahead.
Within the first 20 seconds of the sixth, Conceicao hit Foster with a solid right, and the times the fighters got close, Conceicao tied Foster up.
In the seventh and eighth rounds, Foster had more trouble pushing back his ponytail than dealing with Conceicao. But Foster came. His activity was picking it up. Referee Mark Nelson warned Conceicao for excessive holding.
Was Conceicao tiring?
Foster had a very good eighth. He started walking more towards Conceicao, who had a problem with the pressure. After the eighth, Foster’s corner told him that he would finally break Conceicao.
However, Conceicao was not about to break. In the ninth he went back to the body, and he started working levels again, tapping the body and going up to the head. Conceicao was like a rubber man, sliding, moving, diving and weaving back from Foster.
After Foster had a series of strong rounds, Conceicao regained control of the fight entering the 10th.
With just over a minute left in the 10th, Foster landed an overhand right to the side of Conceicao’s side, staggering Conceicao. Foster had Conceicao on the defensive, backed up and in trouble. Foster hit Conceicao with another right to the head.
‘Shock’ with an ELECTRIC right hand
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“I thought I had a chance to crack him, but he’s a veteran, those guys are hard to stop,” Foster said. “I want the winner of (WBO junior lightweight title Emanuel) Navarrete and Oscar Valdez (December 7). I will be there.”
As we entered the championship rounds, it was easy to see the battle 5-5. Foster’s corner thought Conceicao was through. On the other side, Conceicao’s corner asked their fighter if he was okay, feeling some cracks emerging.
Foster began the 11th in the center of the ring and declared his superiority. Early in the round, Foster connected with a right and backed away, shaking his right hand like he might have hurt himself.
Conceicao was not willing to budge. He continued to work the body, as Foster turned Conceicao around and countered him. Foster continued to chop Conceicao to the body, connecting with a right uppercut. Conceicao, seemingly tired, leaned on Foster to smother his shots.
Foster was given explicit instructions as he entered the final round: “Put him on his ass.”
Conceicao started the last round well, but in the first 30 seconds Foster landed right. Conceicao didn’t allow Foster to open up and suffocated him once again. Nelson continued to stop Conceicao after the eighth round.
Conceicao may not have had anything on his punches, but he was landing. Conceicao was reduced to throwing one punch at a time, while Foster raised his arms and thought he had won.
“The fight was tough, and it was close, but I thought I did a good job,” Conceicao said. “For me he is a good fighter, and I know he has a great story. If he accepts the rematch, as I accepted the rematch, he should show the same amount of respect. At the moment we are 1-1.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has worked for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Follow @JSantoliquito
