CONCEPCION TO FIGHT ON PACQUIAO-DIAZ CARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 May 2008
North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion?s planned May 17 fight in Aguascalientes, Mexico wont push through and instead he will see action on the ?Lethal Combination? fight card headlined by Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao and WBC lightweight champion David Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hitel & Casino in Las Vegas on June 28.
Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today learned that Michael Koncz who is reportedly acting as an agent of Concepcion because of his close relationship with Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, informed Concepcion that he would not fight on May 17 and that Top Rank ?will most likely put him on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Diaz fight.?
Concepcion told WBC ring physician Dr. Allan Recto that he was pleased at the decision since he ?might get hurt on May 17 and may lose the opportunity of fighting in a better, bigger pay-per-view event.?
In his last title defense, the 20 year old Filipino scored a smashing second round TKO against 2004 US Olympic alternate Torrence Daniels in Quartero, Mexico last April 26. It was Concepcion?s 17th straight victory over a former amateur standout who was reported to have "surgeon-like skills."
Concepcion who is managed by former boxer Aljoe Jaro and is ranked No. 7 by the WBC and No. 9 is expected to move up in the rankings following his win over Daniels which ringside journalists described as ?an impressive TKO? which came at 2:42 of the second round. Jake Donovan of Boxing Scene reported that after a comparatively slow first round things ?dramatically picked up-and ended-in the second."
Daniels stunned Concepcion midway in round two forcing the Filipino "to cling on to regain his senses." Daniels moved in on the attack sensing Concepcion was hurt but that was his undoing as Concepcion ? landed a precise right hand to the inside that floored the Colorado prospect." Daniels recovered but Donovan said Concepcion ?moved in for the kill pummeling his foe before referee Ruben Carrion was forced to intervene.?
Arum told us that ?sometime before the end of next year? he was planning to get Concepcion a title fight possibly against IBF champion Steve ?The Canadian Kid? Molitor.
Concepcion who has a record of 24-0-1 with 13 knockouts has been training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach and has sparred with a roster of tough Mexican fighters. According to WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman, Mexican fight fans have been impressed by the 20 year old Filipino.
Sulaiman himself said he was personally impressed with Concepcion?s win over rugged Juan Ruiz in his previous fight, saying the Filipino ?connected with the cleaner and more telling blows? despite a few individuals who criticized his performance.
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