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Mike CoppingerESPN
Shakur Stevenson is set to defend his unified 130-pound championship on Sept. 23 in his native Newark, New Jersey, sources tell ESPN.
There’s no agreement yet, sources said, but Stevenson and Robson Conceicao are closing in on a deal for a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN main event that would take place on a Friday rather than a Saturday, sources said.
Stevenson (18-0, 9 KOs) captured a second junior lightweight title with a lopsided unanimous-decision victory over Oscar Valdez in April. The win landed the 24-year-old southpaw in the No. 10 spot on ESPN’s pound-for-pound list.
An Olympic silver medalist, Stevenson is rated No. 1 by ESPN at 130 pounds and previously captured a title at 126 pounds. Now, he’s lined up to face the man that pushed Valdez to the brink in September.
Conceicao (17-1, 8 KOs) pitched a near shutout over fellow contender Xavier Martinez in January. The 10-round decision victory followed a narrow-points defeat to Valdez in September.
That bout was mired in controversy after Valdez tested positive for a banned substance while in training camp yet was still allowed to proceed with the fight.
An Olympic gold medalist, the 33-year-old Brazilian is rated No. 9 by ESPN at 130 pounds.