NEWARK, NJ (September 21, 2022) — Shakur Stevenson is two days away from his last homecoming. The WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine junior lightweight king will defend his belts on Friday night against Robson Conceição (17-1, 8 KOs) at the Prudential Center. Stevenson, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist, is a Newark native fighting on home soil as a first-time world champion.
Before Stevenson and Conceição took the microphone, the Newark City Mayor’s office presented Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) with a proclamation declaring September 21, 2022, as Shakur Stevenson Day in the city. . That was followed by a special plaque from Quitman Street School students, Stevenson attended Quitman Street for elementary school and the building is less than a mile from the Prudential Center.
In the eight-round lightweight co-feature, US Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (5-0, 4 KO) steps up in class against Omar Tienda (25-5, 18 KO) . At Wednesday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say.
Shakur Stevenson
“Honestly, I’m ready to fight. I’m not really focused on pressure. I don’t care about all that. I’m really focused on working Friday night. I am ready to fight at the end of the day. All I can think about is fighting and taking action. That’s all I have in mind.”
“He is a good fighter. But I think he lost against Valdez. If you left it in the hands of the judges, you lost. I fought Valdez and gave him a beating. I have no excuses. He’s talking about having COVID or something before his last fight. All he hears are excuses. I am ready to fight. Tell him he has no excuses on Friday night. I’m ready to beat him up.”
“I never leave it in the hands of the judges. I go there and take whatever I want.”
Robson Concepcion
“It was very moving for me to be welcomed by my community here. Yes, I understand that Shakur is a native, but I also feel at home here.”
“I’m very motivated. I’ve trained my whole life for this moment. The world could see that I was better than Oscar Valdez. I should have won. So he’s not actually defending two titles because one should have been mine. I am an uncrowned champion and I am ready for Friday night.”
“Shakur is someone I really respect. He is a great athlete. I can tell he is young, probably too excited and talks too much. Next Friday, there will only be one champion, and that champion is me.”
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Bob Arum
“This is what it’s all about. Shakur and Robson had their first professional fights with Top Rank. Now, they’re fighting for a world title on the big stage with millions watching on TV and around the world. You previously saw all these young guys that are fighting on the card. They’ll soon be taking their place on these kinds of stages, fighting in main events. That’s the way boxing should be. That’s why I’m still doing it at the age of 90.”
Keyshawn Davis
“Keyshawn is going to be Keyshawn and he’s going to have fun there. The talent that Shakur and I have is extraordinary. We both have the opportunity to show our talent back to back. Just like I said last time in Vegas when I fought alongside him, the fans will be the winners at the end of the night. And that’s definitely what happened. We are definitely looking forward to giving the fans what they came out and paid for.”
“Is my toughest opponent so far? I don’t know. I will wait and see. I hope it will be a great fight for me so that I can continue to learn and develop. I am more than prepared for this fight both mentally and physically.”
omar Store
“I am happy to be in the co-star of an event of its caliber. I am excited and happy to be able to come here and do my job. What do we bring that can be different? Well, obviously experience, hard work and strength. We will also bring big surprises for the whole night.”
“You all know why I have ‘The Hero’ as my nickname. I worked 13 years in emergency rescue, performing different types of rescues internationally. Not only in 2008, but in 2010, 2014 and the last one in 2016. They have been very important rescues in which lives are in danger, in which we know that we have to go there to work and in which we do not know if we will return to see our families.”
“So for me, this is about working, having fun and being happy. We have come to mark the surprise and the name of ‘The Hero’ will sound once again”.
Bruce Carrington
“Being in Top Rank boxing is the best move I’ve ever made. I am happy to be part of this team. The sky is the limit, and I am ready to keep proving myself. I just want to get in the ring and show my talent so everyone can see what I’m capable of. Top Rank is the ideal place for you to show that.”
jahi tucker
“I just want to thank God for the opportunity to be here. This is a testament to all the hard work we’ve done, and this Friday we’re going to show off all the hard work. This means the world to me.”
Friday, September 23
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 pm ET/7 pm PT)
Shakur Stevenson vs. Robson Conceição, 12 Rounds, Stevenson’s WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Lightweight World Titles
Keyshawn Davis vs. Omar Tienda, 8 rounds, lightweight
ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
Andy Vences vs. Henry Lebron, 8 rounds, junior lightweight
Bruce Carrington vs. Jose Argel, 6 rounds, featherweight
Pablo Valdez vs. Noe Alejandro Lopez, 6 rounds, welterweight Jahi Tucker vs. Jose Luis Sanchez, 8 rounds, welterweight Orlando Gonzalez vs. Misael Lopez, 8 rounds, featherweight Floyd Diaz vs. Juan Hernandez Martinez, 6 rounds, junior featherweight Antoine Cobb vs. Jaylan Phillips, 4 rounds, welterweight
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer and Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. He is passionate about combat sports and also hosts a podcast for Sitting Ringside. He is also a former MMA Fighter and Kickboxer.
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