CONCEPCION BEING LINED UP FOR WBO TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Jun 2008
North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion is being lined up by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for a possible WBO world title fight.
However, Arum said in an interview on dzSR Radio?s ?Sports Chat? hosted by Viva Sports ?Main Event? TV boxing analyst Dennis Principe that the title fight depends on the outcome of the June 7 showdown between reigning 122 pound champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (34-1, 30 KO?s) and Juan Manuel Lopez (21-0, 19 KO?s) of Puerto Rico and Concepcion?s performance on the undercard of the blockbuster WBA welterweight title fight Miguel Angel Cotto (32-0, 26 KO?s)-Antonio Margarito (36-5, 26 KO?s).
Arum who has been enamored with the 20 year old Concepcion said he is ?a little guy I?m so proud of.? Arum announced that since Lopez is ?my fighter and depending on how Concepcion looks in July, then I?m going to get him a world title fight if Lopez wins.? While Arum conceded that Ponce De Leon was ?a dangerous puncher, anything can happen and we believe that Lopez is ready and we believe he?s going to win.?
Concepcion is coming off a second round TKO victory over former US Olympic alternate Torrence Daniels last April 26.
However, should Ponce De Leon who is promoted by Oscar De La Hoya?s Golden Boy Promotions prevail, then the possibility is a rematch with reigning WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa.
Penalosa has repeatedly asked for a rematch claiming that he didn?t think he lost a twelve round decision to the menacing-looking Mexican when they first met on March 17, 2007 although the judges had Ponce De Leon winning by a lopsided margin.
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