Run It Back: Conceição vs. Foster 2 Saturday, ESPN Plus

After a hotly disputed outcome in their first fight in July that fired up boxing fans, WBC Junior Lightweight world champion Robson Conceição and former champion O’Shaquie Foster will run it back in the Top Rank Boxing main event on Saturday, November 2, at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York.

The entire card, including the Conceição vs. Foster 2 main event, will stream live starting at 5:50 p.m. ET/2:50 p.m. PT on ESPN Plus. The co-feature will begin at approximately 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Robbery Begets A Rematch

Calling a fight’s outcome a “robbery” is rarely justified, but most observers felt O’Shaquie Foster had won a decision over Robson Conceição. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Descriptions like “robbery” are rarely justified. But the July 7 decision win for Conceição (19-2-1, 9 KOs), Brazil’s first-ever Olympic boxing gold medalist, over Foster of Houston, Texas (23-3, 12 KOs) came as a shock to observers who universally saw Foster winning. Debate raged until the WBC ordered the rematch.

Conceição won a split decision with scores of 116-112 and 115-113, with Foster winning by 116-112 on the third card. Foster had already made two title defenses since winning the belt from Rey Vargas in February 2023.

Foster outlanded Conceição by 109 to 76 in a fairly uneventful 12 rounds. Foster’s connect rate was 25.1% compared to Conceicao’s 10.8% connect rate. He was emotional after the loss.

O’Shaquie Foster still doesn’t understand the scorecards from his first fight with Robson Conceição. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

“I thought it was an easy fight. I didn’t get touched except with a headbutt. I don’t know, man,” said Foster said. He vowed he would be back and called for the rematch.

“They stole this from me. They stole this fight from me. I just wanted to show the world I could bang it out, and if I want to, I don’t have to get touched. I guess it wasn’t good enough for the judges,” said Foster.

It was Conceição’s fourth attempt to win a world title, having lost to then-unbeaten world champions Oscar Valdez in 2021 and Shakur Stevenson in 2022, followed by a no contest against Nicolas Polanco and a draw against WBO junior lightweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete in 2023.

“This is for my daughter. I promised this to my daughter, and I was able to fulfill that promise. I’m the champion of the world,” said Conceição of his win.

Conceição: Criticism ‘Tremendously Disrespectful’

Robson Conceição won a championship in his fourth try. He will defend it for the first time against O’Shaquie Foster. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

As he trains for the rematch, Conceição said the criticism over his win was disrespectful.

“Foster’s team wasn’t happy with my victory. But he should have asserted himself more in the fight as a champion. He ran and avoided the fight the entire time,” said Conceição.

“I showed that I deserved the win and should have come out as the champion. I was the one asserting myself the entire time. I was the one landing a lot of punches. So, today, I’m a world champion because I earned it and fought for it.”

Conceição said Foster has no one to blame but himself for the loss. “You have to assert yourself and try to knock your opponent out. You’re not supposed to run the entire time. You’re not supposed to throw single shots,” he explained.

“Now, he has another opportunity. But I’m the champion now. I will show why I’m the champion. I will assert myself and go for the knockout. I’m coming to hit him hard and often.”

Foster: ‘Opportunity To Do It Again’

O’Shaquie Foster promises not to take his rematch opportunity for granted on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Foster has been a professional for 12 years after a decorated amateur career with more than 100 fights and was named a U.S. Olympic team alternate for the London 2012 Games. He overcame two narrow decision losses early in his career to assemble a 12-fight win streak, including his victory over Vargas to earn the WBC belt.

Foster defended his title in a thrilling Fight Of The Year contender in October 2023, stopping Rocky Hernandez in the 12th round to pull out the win.

Foster says looking back, the fight was easy. He still doesn’t understand the scorecards but admits he could have been more active.

“There are a lot of things I can do in that ring. I feel like I could have just put more combinations. I could have done a little bit more,” said Foster.

“But now I get the opportunity to do it again. Not everybody gets that opportunity. A lot of times, people get robbed, and they don’t they don’t get the rematch. So, I’m fortunate to get that rematch, and I’m looking to let my hands go more.”

Foster said he expects nothing new from Conceição. “If you watch his fights, he fights the same way every time. He doesn’t switch it up too much. But, in my eyes, I’m just focused on what I can do. I’m good with rematches. I used to get them a lot in the amateurs and always avenged them. This is my first one in the pros, so I’m excited about it. It’s going to be fun.”

Conceição vs. Foster 2 Prediction

O’Shaquie Foster will be better prepared and not leave any effort behind in this rematch with Robson Conceição. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

Foster may have taken his championship status for granted against Conceição in the first fight. He had pulled a rabbit out of his hat, winning by knockout against Hernandez. Foster also knew Conceição had failed in three previous title challenges.

Foster will also know what’s coming at him this time. He will not take the opportunity for the rematch for granted. We expect Foster to improve his work rate and show the judges he can put in the effort they’re seeking to get revenge. There might be a knockdown along the way, but we predict the fighters will make it to the final bell, with Foster getting the decision.

Muratalla vs Perez in Co-Feature

Raymond Muratalla called out Denis Berinchyk after beating Tevin Farmer, but he’ll take a stay-busy fight on Saturday in the meantime. Photo: Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing

In the ten-round co-feature, lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla of Fontana, California (21-0, 16 KOs) faces upset-hungry Jesus Perez of Tijuana, Mexico (25-5, 18 KOs).

Muratalla has been on a solid run with three knockout wins in 2023, followed by two decision victories this year over Xolisani Ndongeni in March and former world champion Tevin Farmer in July.

Perez started his career 21-0 with 16 knockouts before his first loss in 2018. In his latest outing, he upset former world champion Joseph Diaz Jr. by split decision.

Undercard Names Include Nova, Tucker

Popular super featherweight Abraham “Super” Nova of Albany, New York (23-3, 16 KOs) will fight for his hometown fans against Humberto Galindo of Tijuana (14-3-2, 11 KOs). Nova hopes to engineer a comeback after two narrow losses to Andres Cortes and O’Shaquie Foster in 2024.

Middleweight Jahi Tucker of Deer Park, New York (12-1, 5 KOs) will also enjoy a home court appearance against Quilisto Madero of Stockton, California (14-5, 9 KOs). Tucker was a member of the Tokyo 2020 U.S. Olympic boxing team. His first three fights took place in Top Rank Boxing’s “The Bubble” venue during the pandemic.