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CONCEPCION WINS CLOSE, ACTION-PACKED BATTLE By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Sat, 29 Oct 2011  Two-time WBO world featherweight title challenger Bernabe Concepcion won an action-packed but close battle against a fiercely competitive Aaron Garcia to grab the WBC Continental Americas title at the San Manuel Casino in California, Thursday. The fight card was a co-promotion of pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao?s MP Promotions and Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotions with Pacquiao himself at ringside and helping draw the fans to the fights. Aside from Concepcion two other Filipinos, former WBC light flyweight champion Rodel Mayol and stylish super flyweight Richie Mepranum also won their bouts, far more impressively than Concepcion. In fact there were a few boxing writers and fans who felt Garcia deserved to win although Concepcion won a split decision. Filipino judge Jonathan Davis and Zac Young scored it 96-94 for Concepcion while Barry Druxman had Garcia the winner 97-93 Boxing writer Rocco Morales who had Garcia winning 96-94 on his unofficial scorecard said it was a ?tremendous fight? in which Concepcion demonstrated good speed and power but couldn?t knock out his gutsy opponent even as he hinted that the presence of Pacquiao and a noisy band of Filipino supporters helped Concepcion. Concepcion?s inability or failure to throw combinations and his dependence on only a solid right cross to get the job done exposed his weakness although both he and Garcia engaged in furious exchanges in an entertaining fifth round. The slam-bang action continued in the seventh which Concepcion relying on his vicious right hooks while Garcia, despite clearly lacking punching power ripped Concepcion with left hooks to the body and head. With the win Concepcion who lost by a 7th round disqualification in a title fight against Steven Luevano and by a 2nd round knockout to Juan Manuel ?Juanma? Lopez improved to 31-4-1 with17 knockouts while Garcia dropped to 10-3-2 with 2 knockouts. Mayol scored a 4th round TKO over gallant Ernie Marquez who was grimacing in pain after Mayol nailed him with a cracking left hook to the body in round two. Marquez who had a mediocre record of 9 wins against 8 losses and 3 draws with only 3 knockouts protected his ribs forcing Mayol to switch to the head with some solid blows. But once Mayol caught Marquez with another devastating body shot and the fighter winced in pain referee Wayne Hedgepath decided to call a halt at 2:43 of the round. In another lopsided bout Mepranum won a unanimous decision over journeyman Rigoberto Casillas (6-6-1, 4KO?s) with all three judges scoring it for the Filipino by margins of 79-73, 78-74 and 79-73. Not known as a big puncher Mepranum was able to hurt Casillas several times, banking on his speed and accurate punching. The fighter from Sarangani province which Pacquiao represents in Congress, connected with some terrific combinations but because of his lack of power Casillas continued to take Mepranum?s best shots and come forward in an entertaining fight. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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