Ringwalk: Co-main expected around 9:00-10:00 PM ET / 6:00-7:00 PM PT)
Venue: War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Broadcast: ProBox TV (streamed live on YouTube, card starts at 6:00 PM ET)
Weight Class: Middleweight (10 rounds, co-main event)
Brazil’s Olympic gold medalist Hebert Conceicao Sousa makes his middleweight debut against Mexican veteran Elias Espadas in a classic prospect-vs-journeyman matchup on ProBox TV’s season finale card. Sousa, dropping down from super middleweight, looks to impress and position himself for bigger opportunities in a middleweight division ripe for new contenders. Espadas, a durable gatekeeper with experience against top prospects, aims to pull off a massive upset. This bout replaced a previously announced matchup against Paul Kroll due to a late change.
Fighter Records
Hebert Conceicao Sousa (Brazil): 9-0-0 (5 KOs, 55.6% KO rate)
Elias Espadas (Mexico): 23-7-1 (16 KOs, ~50% KO rate in wins)
Recent Form
Hebert Conceicao Sousa (On a 9-fight win streak): The 27-year-old 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold medalist (middleweight) has been flawless in pros since turning in 2022. His most recent win was a unanimous decision over seasoned Brazilian Yamaguchi Falcao (Sept. 2024), showcasing improved boxing skills and ring IQ. Prior highlights include stoppages and decisions over solid opposition like Esquiva Falcao (2023) and Rowdy Legend Montgomery. Sousa has shown power (opponents down multiple times in several bouts) but also patience in going rounds. Dropping to 160 lbs, he weighed in at 160.4 and reports feeling stronger.
Elias Espadas (1-2-1 in last 4 fights): The 35-year-old “Latin Kid” is a battle-tested veteran with over 150 rounds of experience. Recent results include a loss to rising star Callum Walsh (June 2025), a draw with Sadriddin Akhmedov (April 2025), and earlier stoppage loss to Xander Zayas (2022). He’s coming off activity but has struggled against elite prospects, often going deep but falling short. Espadas is durable—stopped only twice in 31 pro fights—and has wins over journeymen, but his form shows vulnerability to higher-level talent.
Injury Report / Status
No reported injuries for either fighter. Both made weight comfortably (Sousa 160.4 lbs, Espadas 160.2 lbs) at Wednesday’s weigh-in, with intense staredowns but no issues. Full health expected; Espadas has a history of toughness, rarely pulling out.
Key Fighter Matchups and Styles
Physical Advantages:
Height/Reach: Sousa (6’1.5″, 76.5″ reach) towers over Espadas (5’10”, 74″ reach), giving him a significant edge in distance control and jab leverage.
Power vs. Chin: Sousa’s amateur pedigree translates to sharp, explosive punches; 5 KOs in 9 pro fights. Espadas has solid power (16 KOs) but elite chin—only stopped by high-volume pressure (e.g., Zayas).
Style Clash: Sousa is an orthodox boxer-puncher with elite amateur fundamentals: strong jab, combination punching, and counter ability. He prefers mid-range but can box or brawl. Espadas, also orthodox, is a volume puncher who pressures and works the body but can be outboxed at range. Expect Sousa to use reach early, picking shots, while Espadas tries to close distance and make it rough inside.
Experience Edge: Espadas has triple the pro bouts and faced names like Zayas, Walsh, and Akhmedov. Sousa, though less experienced pro-wise, dominated amateurs (Olympic gold via comeback KO in final).
X-Factor: Sousa’s drop to middleweight—could enhance speed/power. Espadas’ durability could frustrate if he survives early rounds.
This is their first meeting—no prior fight history.
Betting Trends
Trends from similar matchups: Olympic prospects like Sousa often win convincingly but go over against durable vets (e.g., similar to early Bivol or Charlo bouts).
H2H analogs: Espadas +500 or higher in recent upsets attempts; rarely cashes but occasionally frustrates (e.g., draw with Akhmedov).
FIGHT ODDS
Elias Espadas + 500
Herbert Conceicao Sousa – 650
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Wednesday, December 17, 2025
