EVERY boxing prospect has to go through dangerous career-defining fights that could either make or break him. And unbeaten 22-year-old up-and-comer Genesis Servania (22-0, 8 KOs) is at that point of his career as he will take on former world champion Rafael Concepcion (18-6-1, 8 KOs), who has shared the ring with some of the best in his division.
?It?s hard to predict his (Servania?s) chances against a former world champion. It?s a big test that he has to go through, with him maybe being the next world champion from the Philippines,? said ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer in yesterday?s formal announcement of Pinoy Pride 22? ?The Revenge?.
Servania and Concepcion are fighting for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super bantamweight belt on Oct. 26 at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Cebuano fight fans are quite familiar with Concepcion because he is the same boxer who spoiled AJ Banal?s championship dreams five years ago.
Banal controlled the whole fight before he lost steam and was stopped in the 10th round of their world title fight in 2008 in the Cebu Coliseum.
Servania is eager to get his hands on Concepcion, to prove to the world that he is world -class and avenge his stable mate.
Experience
?I?m confident of myself. I don?t feel pressured and I?m not afraid. I believe in our training and our game plan. I will surely exact my revenge,? said Servania, who is rated No. 6 in the 122-pound division by the WBO.
Servania, who trains under former world title contender Edito Villamor, is off one of the biggest fights of his career. He scored a technical decision win over tough Japanese Konosuke Tomiyama in a Top Rank show in Macau last July. Servania had to pick himself up twice from the canvas before edging out Tomiyama in the scorecards after a premature ending in the ninth round due to a huge cut on his head.
?It was a huge help to me because of the experience that I got out of it. I got a little excited because it was my first fight outside the Philippines. I had an impressive performance in that fight,? said Servania of his experience.
WBO No. 2 super flyweight Arthur Villanueva (23-0, 13 KOs) is also facing an acid test against one-time world title contender Jose Cabrera (22-3-2, 10 KOs) for the WBO International super flyweight belt in the co-main event.
?This is a defining career path for both fighters who might carry the torch of Philippine boxing,? said Aldeguer.
