1. ‘Pinoy’ promotion
Presented by Top Rank, the fledgling “Pinoy Power” series of boxing cards was designed to showcase Filipino fighters in many of its bouts. It follows Top Rank’s popular and successful “Latin Fury” series, which spotlights Hispanic fighters such as Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Juan Manuel Lopez. Just as the Latin Fury cards have had some tough fights, the plan for Pinoy Power is to feature attractive matchups rather than simply serve as a stage for Filipino boxers to show off their skills. In the recent 10th edition of Latin Fury, for example, heavily favored Urbano Antillon, fighting in his native Mexico, lost for the first time in 27 pro fights to Venezuela’s Miguel Acosta.
2. Fan favorite
Nonito Donaire, who gave up the IBF flyweight world title to move up to the 115-pound division for this fight, was born in Bohol in the Philippines and grew up in California. A resident of San Leandro, Calif., Donaire has developed a big fan base in the San Francisco Bay Area. “The people from the Bay Area, they have given me so much support,” Donaire, 26, said. “Without them, I’m really nothing. Wherever I go in boxing, I’m always going to point to them and thank them. It’s not just about me. They’re the ones that made me, and they’re the ones that give me the determination to go in there and fight hard.”
3. No doubt
Even if it looks as if Saturday’s main event were tailored for Donaire — a popular Filipino headlining a boxing promotion created to appeal to fans of fighters from the Philippines — Rafael Concepcion does not want to hear about it. “I know Las Vegas and I know there will be Latino fans in the arena rooting for me on Saturday night,” Concepcion, 27, said. “There will be Mexican fans for sure on my side. I’ve trained hard and I will win. Panama fighters do not lose to Filipinos.” A Panama City native, Concepcion is trained by Panama’s Rigoberti Garibaldi, known for working with former world champion Ricardo Mayorga.
4. History buff
Donaire, who eventually hopes to move up to the 118-pound weight division, then 122 pounds and perhaps beyond, considers himself an aficionado of boxing history and goes out of his way to credit champions in various weight classes who have come before him. He gives particularly high ratings to fighters famed for showing a lot of heart in the ring. “I love looking back at the old-school fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard, the way they give it everything they have in there,” Donaire said. “Guys like Leonard, Alexis Arguello, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Those are all guys I have a lot of admiration for.”
5. Undercard bout
In a featured undercard fight Steven Luevano, one of the most technically sound boxers in the sport, puts his WBO featherweight belt on the line for the fifth time against Bernabe Concepcion (no relation to Rafael Concepcion). Luevano is coming off a 12-round unanimous-decision victory against Billy Dib in Atlantic City and a draw against Mario Santiago in which he retained his title. Concepcion, of Rizal, Philippines, last fought in a six-rounder on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton in May at the MGM Grand.
