LAS VEGAS – Robson Conceicao is 35 years old and lost his first two world title fights.

The 2016 Olympic gold medalist might not get a fourth championship chance, thus he realizes that his shot at Emanuel Navarrete’s WBO junior lightweight title represents an absolute must-win situation for him. Brazil’s Conceicao (17-2, 8 KOs, 1 NC) will meet Mexico’s Navarrete (38-1, 31 KOs) in a 12-round, 130-pound title fight ESPN will broadcast as the opener of its doubleheader Thursday night from T-Mobile Arena (10:30 p.m. ET; 7:30 p.m. PT).

“This is the fight of my life, the most important fight of my life,” Conceicao told BoxingScene.com, according to a translator. “Just like in the Olympic Games, when I won my gold medal on my third try, I’m gonna win my first world title on my third try. It’s not gonna be easy because Navarrete is a great fighter. But I’m very focused and well prepared to take home the title.”

Conceicao represented Brazil at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London before he defeated France’s Sofiane Oumiha in the lightweight gold-medal match seven years ago in Rio de Janeiro. It’d be tough to top the euphoric feeling of capturing gold in his home country, but the Salvador native would love to experience a comparable emotion after 12-round, unanimous-decision defeats to Oscar Valdez and Shakur Stevenson in his first two 130-pound championship clashes.

“It would bring a lot of joy and happiness to me and my family and my country,” Conceicao said. “After a couple of tough fights when I didn’t win the title, finally winning the title would be the happy ending for my story.”

Conceicao’s battle with a then-undefeated Valdez (31-2, 23 KOs) was closely contested in September 2021, but Valdez defeated him on the scorecards of judges Stephen Blea (117-110), Omar Mintun Jr. (115-112) and Chris Tellez (115-112) and retained his WBC super featherweight title. Referee Tony Zaino deducted a point from Conceicao for hitting Valdez behind his head during the 10th round of that bout, which took place at Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona, where Valdez lived as a child.

Stevenson’s victory over Conceicao was much more decisive. Judges Lynne Carter (117-109), John Signorile (118-108) and Steve Weisfeld (117-109) all scored Stevenson a wide winner of that 12-round fight for the WBC and WBO 130-pound championships in September 2022 at Prudential Center in Stevenson’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey.

In Navarrete, Conceicao will encounter an awkward, rugged opponent who rarely stops throwing punches. BetMGM sportsbook lists Navarrete as a 10-1 favorite, but Conceicao is driven by his back being up against the proverbial wall.

“It could be my last opportunity,” Conceicao said, “but that motivates me even more, knowing that it could be my last opportunity. I have the determination to come out with a different outcome.”

Navarrete-Conceicao will be ESPN’s co-feature before Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) and Dominican southpaw Edwin De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title in the 12-round main event.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.