Wild Card Gym, HOLLYWOOD, California – After being castigated by Juan Manual Lopez last July 10, Bernabe Concepcion (28-4-1) promises he is coming back stronger on May 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This time, it’s going to be against Juan Carlos Martinez (18-12-1) of Mexico in a twelve-round non-title fight.
“I have learned a lot from my loss to Juan Manuel Lopez,” Concepcion says. “He is a great fighter and even a very strong puncher.”
In that fight, both boxers were down in round one. But Concepcion was down twice in round two and Lopez won via stoppage at 2:37 of this same round.
Concepcion saw the best of Lopez, 27, last Saturday who suffered his first loss after thirty wins since he launched his professional career in boxing in 2005. Lopez was sent to the canvas in round eight by Orlando Salido (33-11-2) of Mexico and then the controvertial stoppage in round eight.
Meanwhile, Concepcion takes notes of Salido’s victory over Lopez. And he sees hope to win big and become a world champion again. He also sees Salido, 30, now the WBO Featherweight champion and ranking No. 1 in the featherweight division, as a good option for his next fight after Martinez.
“I want to fight the big guns out there. I am hoping to fight Lopez again, if not Salido,” Concepcion says. “But, I am not taking Martinez for granted and I am not underestimating him; He is also a good fighter. It’s just I feel stronger this time.”
Concepcion has sparred six rounds last Friday and targets to reach seventy rounds before he exhanges leathers with Martinez.
Concepcion, 23, captured the WBC International featherweight title in 2009 after winning over Sande Otieno via a technical decision in round five.
Stay tuned for more!
