Robson Conceiçao didn't forget the pain from suffering his first professional loss back in September.
The Brazilian Olympic gold medalist just used it to power his return Saturday night as he delivered an impressive unanimous decision win over rising prospect Xavier Martinez at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Judges scored it 99-91, 100-90, and 98-92 all in favor of Conceiçao, who overcame being wobbled by an overhand left in the third round to dominate the fight.
After the victory, the 33-year-old Conceiçao (18-1, 8 KOs) set his sights on a rematch with WBC junior lightweight champion Oscar Valdez, who appears to be heading toward a unifying showdown with WBO titleholder Shakur Stevenson.
"I know I beat Oscar Valdez, and he's got a fight against Shakur Stevenson, and I think Shakur is going to win, but as a fan and fighter, I want Oscar Valdez to win because he owes me a fight," Conceiçao told ESPN.
Whatever transpires, Conceiçao did his part Saturday night to ensure that the rematch is at the very least an option in the future.
Conceiçao came out with more urgency against a previously undefeated Martinez, 24.
The Brazilian shrewdly used a mix of body shots and punches upstairs to thwart Martinez's offense. And when Martinez did land his best punch of the fight — an overhand left to the temple during the third — Conceiçao regained his bearings enough to outpoint the younger boxer with piercing shots and bank rounds all the way to the lopsided victory.
Here's how the entire main card went.