Bernabe Concepcion takes a step closer to a world title shot as he squares off with Sande Otieno of Kenya for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) International featherweight crown on Jan.11, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Concepcion?s chief handler Aljoe Jaro revealed that Concepcion can no longer make the super-bantamweight limit of 122 lbs and this is the reason why the 20-year-old native of Catanduanes is moving up in weight.
“Bernabe went through hell in going down to 122 lbs in his last two fights and his decision to campaign at featherweight is also aimed at getting a crack at the world titles being held by Steven Luevano and Oscar Larios,” said Jaro, who is staging the Big Dome show in partnership with AIM Global.
“Bernabe said he felt like dying when he was trying top make the weight limit of 122 lbs,” added Jaro, who once fought professionally before deciding to dabble in promoting and managing boxers from his homebase in Binangonan, Rizal.
In the appetizer, one-time world title challenger Sonny Boy Jaro faces Naupayak Sakkripin of Thailand in a light-fly tenner, while another light-fly, Denver Cuello collides with Yanus Emaury Od of Indonesia. Jaro said Manny Pacquiao has pledged his support to the event and is in fact attending the card as he is returning to the Philippines from the US in the second week of January.
Concepcion, who is under the promotional banner of Top Rank, is regarded as one of the brightest prospects for a world title.
Armed with a record of 26-1-1 with 17 knockouts, Concepciom has fought extensively overseas, having seen action six times on US soil and twice on Mexican territory, a few times underneath Pacquiao?s high-profile bouts.
Otieno is actually not going to be a first-time visitor to the country having fought once in Davao a few months ago.
Holding a 16-1 slate with seven knockouts, the 33-year-old Otieno is a southpaw and is considered one of his nation?s top world title hopefuls.
