CONCEPCION HURT BY CRTICISM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Feb 2008
Bernabe Concepcion is clearly hurt by criticism over his performance against tough Juan Ruiz in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico last February 10 when he retained his North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight title with a close but unanimous decision.
Some fans claimed in their assessment that Concepcion should have lost while others claimed it was not an impressive performance. In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from the home of Dr. Allan Rectoin Texas, the 20 year old Concepcion said ?why do some people say I lost. I didn?t.?
He said ?let the critics say what they want but I will just train hard.? Concepcion said he would arrive on Tuesday and stay in Manila for a week before returning to Los Angeles to resume training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in preparation for a fight scheduled on April 26. However, he said he didn?t know who his opponent was.
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman said Concepcion ? looked very good but he had a very, very difficult opponent who was like a bull and wouldn?t let him him box.? He said Concepcion ?threw lot of combinations and very clean, powerful punches and the judges game him the decision very fairly although it was a close bout.?
Top Ran promoter Bob Arum who staged the fights also praised Concepcion saying he is a ?terrific fighter and the Mexicans love him.?
Concepcion won the NABF title with an impressive fourth round TKO against the highly fancied Mexican Gabriel Elizondo on August 4, 2007. His victory over Ruiz in what was described as a sometimes brutal and foul-filled bout that was entertaining with all three judges giving the young Filipino the nod..Two judges had Concepcion winning by a 114-112 margin while the third judge scored it for Concepcion 114-111.
Concepcion now has a record of 24-1-1 with 13 knockouts.It was Concepcion?s first fight in Mexico and to the credit of the judges he was not a victim of a hometown decision in a close fight. Concepcion had previously won three fights in the US since making his debut on April 14 last year when he scored a unanimous ten round decision over Benjamin Flores in San Antonio, Texas on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jorge Solis fight card.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026