There’s a scene in the Will Ferrell film “Kicking and Screaming” where Robert Duvall’s character is trying to compare his manhood and success with Mike Ditka’s.
“I can’t hear you,” Ditka responds, flashing his Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl season memento, “my ring is making too much noise.”
Brazil’s Robson Conceicao similarly wears his World Boxing Council super-featherweight belt to drown out the yelps from those criticizing the validity of the 35-year-old’s position as a world champion.
In case you forgot, two-time Olympic gold medalist Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) was dismissed mightily by observers including the ESPN broadcast crew when he pulled out a July 6 split-decision victory (116-112, 112-116, 115-113) over then-champion O’Shaquie Foster in Newark, N.J., to capture the title.
A belt had evaded Conceicao through losses to champions Oscar Valdez (2021), Shakur Stevenson (2022) and a draw to Emanuel Navarrete (2023) before that.
When the breakthrough title victory arrived, many were aghast. ESPN analyst Mark Kriegel scored the bout 11 rounds to one for Foster, as play-by-play broadcaster Joe Tessitore pointed to CompuBox numbers saying Conceicao landed only 11 percent of his 701 punches and only landed 10 or more punches in two of the rounds.
“I don’t focus on criticism. My goal is to train with my team and get ready for the next fight. I don’t pay attention to (negativity),” Conceicao told BoxingScene Thursday.
Immediately after the first bout, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum defended Conceicao, noting that the new champion threw more than 250 more punches, with Conceicao responding that Houston’s Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) lost because he ran from toe-to-toe action.
“I just hope (Foster) will come to fight and not shy away,” Conceicao said. I’m sure he’s coming to take the title back for himself. It’s not going to happen. Don’t shy away, because I’m ready.
Nothing in my life has ever been easy and this is no exception. Now, as a world champion, I’m expecting things to be a little bit harder, but I am training and I am confident and looking forward to it.”
Going unbothered through the controversy requires a tenacity Conceicao built in winning the consecutive gold medals in 2012 and 2016.
His embrace for the toughest pro fights possible is an extension of that willingness to take on the best to prove he reigns supreme.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to choose my fights,” Conceicao said. “These opportunities arise and I’ve taken them on and done my best.”
Knowing the best possible opponent is likely going to be summoned in each assignment has enabled Conceicao to search for a more convincing display of his title worthiness.
Preparation “is very focused and disciplined. I never give up. I’m very determined. When you focus on something, you will continually work to accomplish what you want, and this will not be any different,” he said.
The timing of his bout leaves him positioned to meet the winner of the Dec. 7 WBO super-featherweight title fight in Arizona between WBO champion Navarrete and WBO interim champion Valdez.
Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank.
Valdez defeated Conceicao on the scorecard (117-110, 115-112, 115-112) after testing positive for a banned substance, phentarmine, and Stevenson beat him by wider scores after missing weight.
“I’d like to fight Navarrete because that was not a convincing loss,” Conceicao said of the majority draw in which one judge scored the bout for Navarrete.
With less than one month to go before the Foster sequel, Conceicao is braced to answer the critics he’s never listened to.
“(Foster) will be different this time. He will fight for the title. I am ready. That’s what I want – somebody who comes to fight and not run away,” Conceicao said. “Come to fight. I am persistent in accomplishing my goal of winning.”