Stolen valor? Robson Conceicao outclassed by O’Shaquie Foster, wins anyway

There are bad decisions in boxing and there are horrendous decisions. And then there are utterly and totally incomprehensible, inexplicable decisions – like the one delivered at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Saturday night, as Robson Conceicao won a 130-pound title at the fourth time of asking, despite being outlanded and seemingly outclassed by O’Shaquie Foster.

Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) was close to tears afterward, stunned by the official scores that relieved him of his WBC strap. Truth be told, Ronald McNair’s card of 116-112 for defending titleholder Foster seemed close, but at least he was watching the fight. How Anthony Lundy and Paul Wallace scored for Brazil’s Conceicao by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 is a mystery. Conceicao barely landed a glove on Foster, who was presumably punished for emphasizing the art of not being hit over that of hitting.

The first two rounds set the pace that the following 10 followed: Conceicao advancing behind his jab, aiming to set up an overhand right; Foster backing up, drawing Conceicao onto him and looking to land short counters. A long left hook in the first as Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) pulled straight backward was the signature punch in the early going, but a short counter right hand early in the third signaled the prospect of further danger ahead for the Brazilian.

A few fans in the crowd began to vent their disapproval at the lack of action in the fourth, a clear sign that Foster’s efforts to negate Conceicao’s offense were proving effective. The Brazilian stepped up his output in the fourth and fifth, but to little effect as Foster blocked or slipped just about everything he threw. Meanwhile, Foster was landing just enough by way of counters to take the rounds and deter Conceicao – but far from enough to keep the crowd (or, apparently, two of the judges) engaged or happy.

So much of boxing is about real estate, and Foster was effortlessly in control of the property inside the ring, standing just outside mid-range, forcing Conceicao to reach with his punches and then countering over the top when the Brazilian was off-balance and exposed. As a frustrated Conceicao began to increase his output in an attempt to land something meaningful, Foster put greater weight behind his counters as greater opportunities opened up.  But it was all very one-paced and unimaginative from Conceicao, and Foster at no stage looked in any danger of having to move into second gear, let alone third or fourth.

Indeed, in his desperation to land something – anything – the Brazilian at times resorted to flinging slapping punches that belied the fact he is a former Olympic champion. It was Foster who looked like the man with the amateur pedigree as he put on a defensive clinic.

Or, at least, he appeared to until the scores were announced.

Conceicao may have been ripped off when he lost on points to Oscar Valdez in 2021, but this was a far, far worse decision than that. Conceicao won’t care; he has a nice green belt to wrap around his waist at last, after falling short in losing efforts against Valdez and Shakur Stevenson and in a draw last November with Emanuel Navarrete.

Foster, however, was devastated.

“I thought it was a shutout,” he said with tears in his eyes. “I thought it was easy. I didn’t get touched, except by a head-butt. I’ll be back. I want the rematch. They stole this fight from me.”

Kieran Mulvaney has written, broadcast and podcasted about boxing for HBO, Showtime, ESPN and Reuters, among other outlets. He also writes regularly for National Geographic, has written several books on the Arctic and Antarctic, and is at his happiest hanging out with wild polar bears. His website is www.kieranmulvaney.com.