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CONCEPCION MAY GET TITLE CRACK AT LUEVANO By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Sun, 11 Jan 2009  North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion who is rated No. 4 by the WBO moves up in weight to battle Kenya?s Sande Otieno for the vacant WBC International title at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday. Concepcion, regarded as one of the country?s promising young prospects has a record of 27-1-1 with 16 knockouts while Otieno?s only loss after 16 wins including 7 knockouts was a controversial 5th round technical decision to undefeated Balweg Bangoyan last October 11 in Davao. Concepcion is coming of a bloody brawl against tough Mexican champion Giovanni Caro which Concepcion won by an 8th round knockout in the main event of a highly successful US promotional debut by Pacquiao?s MP Promotions at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in El Cajon, California. The ringside physician Dr. Bear Gamboa was on the verge of stopping the fight at the end of the seventh round after Concepcion?s left eye was almost swollen shut because of a nasty cut on his eyelid. The doctor examined Concepcion after the referee stopped the bout when Concepcion connected with a low blow and he gave the Mexican time to recover. Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao called out Bernabe and was pointing to his heart during the lull as though to tell him to demonstrate the same kind of courage that Pacquiao is famous for in the ring. Pacquiao?s lawyer Franklin ?Jeng? Gacal told us then that when the fight resumed Concepcion ?just went crazy and threw a succession of brutal punches? to send the Mexican crashing to the canvas to be counted out at 2:35 of round eight. Trainer Freddie Roach who was in Concepcion?s corner was impressed with his courage and punching power and along with Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz have indicated that a title shot at WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano is a possibility. Luevano, a southpaw, is not regarded as a heavy puncher but is a talented boxer with a record of 36-1-1 with 15 knockouts. However, a possible title shot against Luevano perhaps in April will depend on how well Concepcion does against Otieno although the hard-hitting Filipino should win handsomely since a check on Otieno?s record doesn?t indicate wins over top caliber opponents. In fact, Tanzania?s Obote Ameme went the distance with Otieno in an eight round bout on June 9, 2007 and lost by decision. Ameme is the same fighter who was mauled by Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista who scored a second round TKO victory in a WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title fight on November 19, 2005. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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