Valdez vs Sanchez results: Robson Conceicao, Michael Seals pick up prelim wins

The fights are underway in Reno, and we’ve got continuing live updates from the Valdez-Sanchez card on ESPN.

Here’s the ESPN+ prelim rundown.

Robson Conceicao UD-8 Carlos Ruiz

Conceicao (13-0, 6 KO) won on scores of 79-73, 80-72, 80-72, a clear outclassing of Ruiz (16-7-2, 6 KO), which was expected. Conceicao has real skills — he was a three-time Olympian and won gold at Rio 2016 — but the Brazilian has thus far shown zero indication that he’s particularly serious about being a pro contender for real. He’s happily floated along in gimme fights on Top Rank undercards, which is one way to have a career in boxing for sure.

I don’t even particularly care, if that’s what he wants to do and Top Rank will pay for it, then good for him. But if you’re wondering when Conceicao is going to step up, I’m just saying he’s shown no real indication that it’s in the plans. He’s had just 13 pro fights, yes, but he’s also 30 years old, not some kid getting rounds. He is an accomplished, high-level amateur, and you’d hope he would have stepped up by this point, two and a half years into his pro career. But he hasn’t, and again, oh well — he’s making his money and good for him. Ruiz gave this a real go, but Conceicao saw all the Mexican fighter could offer within two rounds, and firmly took over from there.

Diego Elizondo D-4 Sergio Vega

This was as easy a fight to score as you’ll ever see. Elizondo (2-0-2, 0 KO) won the first two rounds clearly, and Vega (2-0-1, 2 KO) won the third and fourth rounds clearly. Entertaining fight at 135. Second straight draw for Elizondo.

Michael Seals KO-2 Christopher Brooker

An odd KO in the second round, with Seals kinda grazing Brooker, who went catatonic in response.

Here’s the real time video:

Here it is slowed down a bit:

Just an odd knockout. I can’t tell exactly where it hits Brooker, and Seals can certainly crack, so I’m not suggesting anything devious, it’s just usually when you see a knockdown that results in the guy knocked down in that sort of physical mess, it’s way clearer a shot.

Anyway, light heavyweight Seals is now 23-2 (16 KO), while Brooker drops to 14-7 (5 KO).

JJ Mariano TKO-4 William Flenoy

A pro debut for both of these guys, junior welterweights. Mariano, a 25-year-old Reno native, was going about even with Flenoy, 28, through two rounds, then caught him and dropped him in the third. Flenoy wound up retiring 45 seconds into the fourth round with a shoulder injury. Mariano is 25 and just turned pro, and it’s not like he was some Olympic medalist or anything, so upside is probably limited, but this was a fun fight to kick off the show.