According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, Top Rank has signed 2016 Gold Medal winner Robson Canceicao.
Conceicao, who won the gold medal at 132 will make his pro debut on the Noveber 5th Manny Pacquiao – Jessie Vargas card in Las Vegas.
“The most important thing to me was the incredible connection he has to those fans in Brazil,” said Top Rank’s Todd duBoef. “That was A, No. 1. The fighting style, his speed, his power, what he does with his right hand or his left hand — I will leave that to my matchmakers. But his marketability is sensational, absolutely over the top.”
DuBoef said that Top Rank matchmaker Brad “Abdul” Goodman, who attended the Olympics, was blown away by the reaction he saw from the Brazilian fans when Conceicao boxed.
“He said he had never seen anything across the board in terms of enthusiasm in the arena as Conceicao progressed in the Olympics, and especially when he won the gold medal,” duBoef said. “Obviously, his skills at that level speak for themselves, but the marketability and coming from Brazil, which is a massive country that supports its sports stars, make this the perfect combination for us.”
DuBoef said because of Conceicao’s considerable amateur background and age that he will forgo four-round bouts and make his pro debut in a scheduled six-rounder.
“He’s mature, and he’s going to jump right into six-rounders and maybe into eight-rounders after two fights,” duBoef said. “We may see quicker transitions to the pros than we have after previous Olympics because of the new rules in Rio.”
“His trainer [Luiz Dorea, who has worked with MMA star Anderson Silva] feels the development into a professional will be very smooth and quick,” duBoef said.
“This is step No. 2 of our long-term investment into Brazil and the boxing category,” duBoef said. “They’re huge fans of MMA, but it’s also a fertile place for boxing.”
