LAS VEGAS – Robson Conceicao conceded that Emanuel Navarrete’s unusual style will be difficult to neutralize Thursday night.
The determined Mexican persistently pressures opponents, rarely stops punching and delivers his shots from various angles that make him difficult to defend. Brazil’s Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs, 1 NC) still senses that the unconventional Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) will have even more trouble figuring out how to deal with a capable boxer who is motivated by the likelihood that this will be his last 130-pound title fight if Conceicao doesn’t win their 12-round bout at T-Mobile Arena.
“Navarrete has a very awkward, strange style,” Conceicao told BoxingScene.com through a translator. “He’s always coming forward. He has long arms, never stops throwing punches. But me and my team are getting ready for that kind of fight and we’re looking for ways to surprise him and come out victorious on November 16th.”
Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson have out-pointed Conceicao in his first two championship matches.
Conceicao gave Valdez a more competitive fight than he gave Stevenson, but Mexico’s Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs, who owned the WBC super featherweight title at that time, still beat the 2016 Olympic gold medalist on the scorecards of judges Stephen Blea (117-110), Omar Mintun Jr. (115-112) and Chris Tellez (115-112) in September 2021 at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona. Conceicao also had a point deducted by referee Tony Zaino in the 10th round of that fight for hitting Valdez behind his head.
Stevenson soundly beat Conceicao in their 12-rounder a year later for the WBC and WBO 130-pound championships. The 2016 Olympic silver medalist won by big margins on the cards of judges Lynne Carter (117-109), John Signorile (118-108) and Steve Weisfeld (117-109) in September 2022 at Prudential Center in Stevenson’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey.
Navarrete is a heavy favorite over Conceicao, 10-1 according to BetMGM sportsbook.
“I’m gonna surprise him on November 16th,” Conceicao said. “You know, he has never fought a fighter like me. I’m gonna cause him a lotta problems. I’m very focused and determined to come out victorious. But I’m definitely gonna cause him a lotta trouble because he has never fought a boxer like me.”
Navarrete-Conceicao will open ESPN’s doubleheader Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. PT). Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) is scheduled to battle Dominican southpaw Edwin De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) in the main event, a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.