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Robson Conceição Defeats Xavier Martinez
Photos: Mikey Williams - Top Rank
Robson Conceição did not experience a world title defeat
hangover. Less than five months removed from a close
decision loss to WBC super featherweight world champion
Oscar Valdez, Conceição earned a one-sided decision over
the previously undefeated Xavier Martinez in a 10-round
WBC super featherweight title eliminator Saturday
evening at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs), ranked No. 3 by the WBC, won by
scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92. He outlanded Martinez
(17-1, 11 KOs) in each of the final five rounds.
After the fight, Conceição called out for a rematch
against Valdez.
“I learned a lot from that Oscar Valdez loss, and that’s
why I was able to dedicate myself," Conceição said. "I
wasn’t discouraged by what happened that evening. I know
who I am, and I knew if I put in the work, I could have
this type of performance. But my mind is set on Valdez,
and I definitely want that shot.
“To be honest, I think Xavier Martinez punches harder
than Oscar Valdez. I felt his punches, but I know this
is the type of fight I needed to prepare myself because
I’m a world champion level fighter. And I definitely
want Oscar Valdez."
Martinez had pockets of success, stunning Conceição in
the fourth and ninth rounds. But the heavy blows were
few and far between, as the 2016 Brazilian Olympic gold
medalist ultimately showed his class.
Martinez said, "I thought it was closer. I know I didn’t
do enough to win. I sat back too much. I didn’t listen
to the game plan fully. It is what it is. I’m not going
to be a sore loser. He did his thing tonight. It wasn’t
my night. I’m not done. This is just the beginning."
Cabrera Cruises Past Giron
Giovanni Cabrera (19-0, 7 KOs), who is trained by
Freddie Roach, authored a one-sided boxing exhibition
with a unanimous decision over Rene Tellez Giron (16-2,
10 KOs) in the eight-round junior welterweight
co-feature (scores: 77-75 and 78-74 2x). Cabrera, from
Chicago, returned to action for the first time since
2019 and ended Giron's three-bout winning streak.
Giron rose to prominence with his 2019 knockout win over
Karlos Balderas, but he showed up five pounds overweight
Friday for his originally scheduled showdown against
Luis Melendez. He was then matched with Cabrera, who
weighed in at 138.6 and hopes to campaign as a
lightweight moving forward.
Cabrera outlanded Giron, 141-122, and pulled away on the
judges' cards down the stretch.
In undercard action:
Middleweight Nico Ali Walsh (4-0, 3 KOs) returned to the
venue where he made his pro debut last August and once
again scored a devastating stoppage. Ali Walsh took care
of Jeremiah Yeager (1-2-1, 1 KO) in the second round,
knocking him down for the first time with a right-left
combination.
Just before the second knockdown, Ali Walsh broke out
his grandfather's patented Ali Shuffle and finished
things off with a left hook.
Ali Walsh said, “I think the main thing was staying
calm, which I did. Another thing was head movement and
defense, which I felt like I did improve on. I fought
last month, so if I can make those small improvements in
this such a short amount of time, who’s telling what I
can do in my next fight?
“I didn’t plan {the Ali Shuffle}. It was emotional, of
course. So much has been going on, but yeah, I didn’t
plan on doing that. It’s just something that happened.”
Cleveland-born welterweight Tiger Johnson (2-0 1 KO),
who represented the U.S. at the Tokyo Olympics last
year, lived up to his blue chip billing with a
one-sided, four-round decision over Xavier Madrid (3-1,
1 KO). All three judges scored it 40-36 for Johnson, who
had Madrid stunned on a few occasions in the fourth. The
Albuquerque native fired back and saw the final bell.
St. Louis-born heavyweight Stephan Shaw (16-0, 12 KOs)
shined in his Top Rank debut, stopping Philadelphia's
Joey Dawejko (21-10-4, 12 KOs) in the eighth round. Shaw
never had Dawejko seriously hurt, but referee Gerald
Ritter stopped the fight on the advice of Dawejko's
corner.
Featherweight sensation Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington (2-0,
1 KO), from Brownsville, Brooklyn, knocked out Steven
Brown (1-1, 1 KO) in the second round with a devastating
offensive assault. Carrington pinned Brown to the ropes
and unloaded with four clean shots. The final blow, a
left uppercut, crumpled Brown to the canvas.
Carla Torres (7-6) used her pinpoint accuracy to edge
Pink Tyson (11-3, 2 KOs) via eight-round majority
decision in a junior lightweight affair. The scorecards
read as follows: 76-76, 77-75 and 80-72.
Featherweight prospect Haven Brady Jr. (5-0, 3 KOs) went
the six-round distance for the first time as a pro,
shutting out Mexican veteran Diuhl Olguin (15-21-5, 10
KOs) by identical scores of 60-54.
Light heavyweight Dante Benjamin Jr. (1-0, 1 KO) had a
successful pro debut, knocking out Emany Rendon (2-1) at
2:05 of the opening round. Benjamin knocked Rendon down
twice, ending the fight with a short left hook.
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