Shakur Stevenson pushed back against criticism of Robson Conceicao’s latest world title opportunity, arguing the Brazilian has done enough against elite opposition to deserve the chances he’s received.
The debate began after a fan questioned Conceicao’s string of title fights, noting the 37-year-old has challenged Oscar Valdez, Shakur, O’Shaquie Foster twice, Emanuel Navarrete, and is now set to face IBF lightweight champion Raymond Muratalla on August 1 in Las Vegas.
“S*** he arguably beat everybody on that list except me,” said Shakur on X about Conceicao.
Shakur’s comment reflects a view shared by many boxing fans regarding several of Conceicao’s biggest fights. The Brazilian dropped a disputed unanimous decision to Valdez in their 2021 WBC super featherweight title bout, fought Navarrete to a majority draw in 2023 despite being knocked down twice, and split two razor-close fights with Foster, winning the first to capture the WBC title before losing a split decision in the rematch that many also believed could have gone his way.
The one exception was Shakur. The unbeaten former three-division world champion defeated Conceicao by unanimous decision in September 2022, successfully defending his WBC and WBO super featherweight titles. While the verdict itself drew little controversy, the fight was criticized by many fans because of its tactical nature. Shakur controlled the action with movement, distance and his trademark step-back style rather than engaging in prolonged exchanges, producing a performance that was effective but lacked the drama that defined Conceicao’s bouts with Valdez, Navarrete and Foster.
The fight has largely faded from memory despite featuring two world-class fighters. Conceicao now gets another chance to silence his critics when he challenges Muratalla for his IBF lightweight title on the undercard of William Zepeda’s vacant WBC title fight against Lamont Roach Jr. If Conceicao pulls off the upset, Shakur’s defense of his record will look even more justified.
Tim Compton is a boxing journalist and contributor to Boxing247.com who has covered the international fight landscape since 2019. He reports on major developments, champions, and rising prospects with a focus on accuracy, sourcing, and analytical clarity.
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Boxing • Boxing News • Shakur Defends Robson Conceicao’s Record After Title Shot Criticism
Last Updated on 2026/07/15 at 1:17 PM