Young Filipino bomber Bernabe Concepcion aims to steal the thunder from the night?s top draw when he defends the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) superbantamweight crown against Juan Ruiz on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Domo De La Feria in Guanajato, Mexico.
Concepcion, the brightest prospect for a world title next to Manny Pacquiao, is set to fly out of Los Angeles direct to the cultural city of Guanajato on Thursday night, according to Texas-based Filipino physician Allan Recto in an long-distance call from Laredo yesterday. Guanajuato is 370 kilometers northwest of Mexico City.
Handled by Aljoe Jaro, the 20-year-old Concepcion parades a 23-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockouts, and a victory over Ruiz, an American of Mexican descent, should improve his No. 11 ranking in the WBC?s 122-lb division.
“Concepcion trained well together with Pacquiao at the Wild Card,” said Recto, who spent four days in Los Angeles last week upon the request of Pacquiao and will lend a hand in Concepcion?s medical needs this week.
Concepcion has fought four times on US shores and is making his Mexican debut, an opportunity that he and his manager are looking forward to.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum is attending the promotion and while the spotlight will fall on Julio Cesar Chavez, who stars in the blockbuster show at the 5,240-seat arena, he will keep a close watch on Concepcion.
Jaro made sure Concepcion will be in terrific shape for the fight as they arrived in the US three weeks ago not only to get accustomed to the cold weather but to have more time to shake off the ill effects of jet lag.
Concepcion was born in Catanduanes but resides in the Binangonan abode of Jaro.
