IN what was a struggle to overlook O’Shaquie Foster’s world title defeat to Robson Conceicao may show to be essentially the most controversial of 2024.
Foster, (22-3, 12 KOs), who was defending his WBC super-featherweight strap for a 3rd time, misplaced by break up resolution with two of the judges seeing it, remarkably, 116-112 and 115-113 in favour of Conceicao whereas the third having it 116-112 for Foster.
Neither man provided sufficient in offence with Foster content material to shoulder roll something that got here his means towards his Brazilian opponent who appeared means off the extent of a world title contender. With that being mentioned, nevertheless, this was his fourth try at profitable tremendous featherweight world honours and now returns to Brazil as champion.
Foster settled the higher of the 2 and appeared by far the extra composed and warranted within the ring and something he did land caught the attention but it surely was far too rare. The place Conceicao could have caught the judges consideration was in his bursts of pictures from the fourth onwards however once more there was nothing that both disturbed or harm the champion.
The group contained in the Prudential Centre made their displeasure heard throughout the identical spherical and have been proper to take action in what was a boring chief assist slot bout to Shakur Stevenson’s WBC light-weight title defence towards Artem Harutyunyan. Ironic cheers greeted the ultimate bell to sign the tip of the competition a lot to the delight of the paying followers.
And whereas this contest shouldn’t be talked about once more for what occurred within the ring, what occurred on two of the three scorecards will depart followers scratching their heads for years to come back. Did Conceicao do sufficient to win? Most definitely not. Did Foster to sufficient to retain? Sure, however he’ll remorse not stamping his authority on an opponent who appeared out of concepts from early on within the struggle.
Right here’s hoping there is no such thing as a rematch clause.
