Rocking Robson: Conceição Defeats Xavier Martinez in Tulsa Main Event
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.
