ALTHOUGH Genesis Servania is eager to shut up Panamanian slugger Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion tonight, he won?t fight him hastily but rather fight him by the book.
?I really want to knock him out because he is so arrogant,? Servania said after yesterday?s weigh-in at the Active Zone of Ayala Center Cebu. ?I won?t get carried away though and rush him in. I?m just going to stick with my game plan.?
Servania (22-0, 8 KOs) and Concepcion (18-6-1, 8 KOs) are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental super bantamweight strap in the main event of Pinoy Pride XXII ? ?The Revenge? at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.
Since Concepcion?s arrival here in Cebu, he has been talking smack about Servania. He said that Servania will go to sleep in this fight because he is even more improved than the last time he was here when he derailed AJ Banal?s boxing career by knocking him out in the 10th round in 2008.
The interim World Boxing Association super flyweight king Concepcion, however, has something to back up his words because he has fought some of the elite names in the lower weight divisions?Nonito Donaire Jr., Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce. He also has a world-class coach in Rigoberto Garibaldi, who has trained the likes of the legendary Roberto Duran and brash Nicaraguan Ricardo Mayorga. He also has the best sparring partners in world champions Anselmo Moreno Nicholas Walters and Liborio Solis.
The last time the 22-year-old Servania fought hurriedly was in his previous fight in which he got knocked down twice. But he escaped that fight with a technical decision against Japanese banger Konosuke Tomiyama.
Both Servania and the 31-year-old Concepcion made weight at exactly 122 pounds.
Unbeaten Arthur Villanueva (23-0, 13 KOs) takes on Mexican Edgar Martinez (16-7, 10 KOs) for the vacant WBO International super flyweight belt in the co-main event.
Villanueva was supposed to take on Mexican former world title challenger Jose Cabrera but the latter had problems with his visa and was replaced by Martinez.
The 24-year-old from Bacolod City is just a fraction away from a world title shot because he is currently rated No. 2 in the WBO.
Former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super bantamweight titleholder Roli Gasca (20-4-1, 5 KOs) trades leathers with Indonesian Lande Olin (11-4, 7 KOs) in a 10-rounder; hard-hitting Mark Bernaldez (11-0, 7 KOs) slugs it out with Thai Khunkiri Wor Wisaruth (10-5-1, 5 KOs); and Mark Magsayo (3-0, 2 KOs) faces off with Hagibis Quinones (3-10-1, 2 KOs) are among the fights that are featured in the main card.
In the undercard, heavy-handed Richard Barrios (5-0, 3 KOs) is up against Rocky Incepido (5-1-1, 3 KOs); Elmo Traya (2-1, 2 KOs) is fighting Gabby Siempo (5-1-1, 1 KO); and Japanese Kazuma Ejiri (1-3, 1 KO) is looking for his second career win against debutant Don Amparado.
