The spotlight was on the 135-pound division this past Saturday, but it was a 130-pound title bout that concerned the Ring Ratings Panel. O’Shaquie Foster appeared to clearly outbox three-time title challenger Robson Conceicao over 12 rounds in the co-main event of a Top Rank card in Newark, N.J.
, but two of the official judges (Tony Lundy and Paul Wallace) awarded the Olympic gold medalist a very controversial split decision for his mostly ineffective aggression throughout the pedestrian bout, which was part of an ESPN broadcast. Scores were 116-112 (Lundy) and 115-113 (Wallace) for the 35-year-old Brazilian, and 116-112 (Ron McNair) for the 30-year-old Texan, who was making the third defense of his WBC belt. Most observers agreed with McNair’s tally, or had it more one-sided in favor of Foster (22-3, 12 KOs), who entered the bout as The Ring’s No.
2-ranked junior lightweight. Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) is The Ring’s No. 8-ranked junior lightweight.
Conceicao was the aggressor against Foster but only seldom was it effective. (Photo by Mikey WIliams-Top Rank) In the Top Rank main event, Shakur Stevenson , The Ring’s No. 4-rated lightweight, defended his WBC strap with a clearcut unanimous decision over German fringe contender Artem Harutyunyan .
The bout’s lack of action elicited criticism from ESPN’s broadcasters, mostly aimed at Stevenson’s careful performance, which continued to be ripped by fans, pundits and even some of the fighter’s peers on social media.
