The World Boxing Council has ordered an immediate rematch of the clash between WBC super featherweight champion O’Shaquie Foster and Robson Conceicao after a public backlash over the outcome of their July 6th fight at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
The 2016 Olympic gold medalist Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) outworked the defensive-minded Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) to win a twelve-round split decision. The scores were 116-112, 115-113 for Conceicao, and 116-112 for Foster.
All the complaining Foster has been doing has finally paid off, and the WBC ordered a rematch.
Foster, a fan-favorite, has complained ever since about the outcome, believing he deserved the win. He didn’t appear to win because he fought in spurts, spending most of the fight with his back against the ropes, not working hard, and allowing Conceicao to dictate the entire contest.
It was a messy fight because Foster did not work and let Conceicao dominate the action. I watched the fight twice and had Conceicao winning 10-2.
Foster looked like he was imitating Shakur Stevenson’s defensive style and not working hard for three minutes of each round.
Conceicao dominated the entire fight by outworking Foster. Gervonta Davis’ coach, Kenny Ellis, pointed out that Foster was too passive, allowing Conceicao to outwork him. That’s what I saw as well.
Foster complained afterward and was salty for weeks, but he needs to own his loss because he didn’t do enough. Foster only had himself to blame for not working.
Foster’s defensive style against Conceicao was poison for the eyes and hard to watch unless you’re a fan who likes watching a game of tag. It had a porch pirate quality to it, and it was boring to watch. If not for Conceicao, there wouldn’t have been a fight because he was pushing the fight and initiating the action.
The two judges that scored it for Conceicao got it right. He did all the work while Foster was just trying to steal rounds in the last 10 seconds by throwing punches. He was lazy in that fight.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman posted on social media today that the board of governors has ruled to order a rematch between the beaten Foster and Conceicao.
Rematch Ordered Amidst Double Standards
Interestingly, Sulaiman didn’t say why a rematch was never ordered after Conceicao lost a controversial twelve-round unanimous decision to WBC super featherweight champion Oscar Valdez on October 10, 2021, in Tucson, Arizona.
That fight was far more controversial than the Foster vs. Conceicao match, yet the WBC never ordered a rematch.
The Foster-Conceicao rematch will likely be the same outcome because Foster is a defensive fighter with a Shakur style. He gives away a lot of rounds by not working hard. We saw the same thing in Foster’s fights against Abraham Nova. Eduardo Hernandez and Rey Vargas.
The WBC Board of Governors has ruled to order a direct rematch between WBC super featherweight champion Robson Concenciao & former champion @OshaquieFoster
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) July 22, 2024
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