The Brazilian Olympic gold medalist Robson Conceição believes the third time is the charm.
After two failed world title attempts, Conceicao believes his upcoming fight with Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will net him a different result.
Conceição will have his third world title opportunity when he takes on WBO junior lightweight world champion Navarrete on Thursday, Nov. 16 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Navarrete-Conceição will serve as the co-feature to the vacant WBC lightweight title clash between pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson and Dominican slugger Edwin De Los Santos.
"I have the utmost respect for a great champion like 'Vaquero' Navarrete. He is a good person and a tremendous fighter, and I am sure that we will have a great battle,” said Conceicao. “He has something that is the thing I want most in my professional life.”
“I'm not coming to play. I'm coming for his title. Navarrete, I'm very sorry."
"I won my gold medal in my third Olympic Games. Now, I will win my world title in my third opportunity.”
Conceição, who holds a record of 17-2, 8 KOs was Brazil’s first Olympic boxing gold medalist winning it at home at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and has been signed to Top Rank Inc. ever since turning professional. Yet, Conceicao’s two professional losses have come in world title fights, one of which being a close fight some thought he should’ve won against Oscar Valdez and a not-so-close fight against Shakur Stevenson, who thoroughly outpointed him. Conceição sees a parlay between his greatest amateur success taking three tries and now his professional career granting him a third opportunity.
Conceicao, 35-years-old, will now face the most decorated current super featherweight champion in the 28-year-old, Navarrete, who holds a record of 38-1, 31 KOs, and is a three-division world champion from Mexico. Adding to the luster of a distinguished Mexican world champion is the fact that he has won thirty-three consecutive bouts.
Just like the old saying goes, the third time is the charm. Conceicao believes that will be the case in this fight.
"I won my gold medal in my third Olympic Games. Now, I will win my world title in my third opportunity. I will take his title to Brazil, and it will be a bigger national celebration than when I won Olympic gold in Rio 2016. I will join the select group of Olympic champions to win a world title as a professional."
