ROACH SAYS CONCEPCION NOT YET READY FOR WORLD TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Jul 2008
North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion?s trainer, Freddie Roach, is convinced that the 20 year old Filipino is not yet ready for a world title fight especially against a champion like Juan Manuel Lopez.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports ?Main Event? boxing panelists Dennis Principe and this writer on dzSR Sports Radio, Roach said Lopez who hammered menacing Daniel Ponce De Leon into submission in the very first round of their WBO title ?has a knockout punch and is a little bit dangerous right now.?
The celebrated trainer said ?I think Concepcion needs a little more experience to fight Lopez. Maybe sometime early next year.?
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Concepcion was ?coming into prominence and Manny Pacquiao will be at ringside cheering on his coutryman and as a matter of fact he manages Concepcion.?
Concepcion faces the taller Adam Carrera on the undercard of the eagerly awaited blockbuster showdown between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito at the MGM Grand on July 26.
Respected WBC ring physician Dr. Allan Recto told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he had spoken to Concepcion the other day and the undefeated young Filipino who is training at the Wild Card Gym said ?everything is going well? in his preparations for the clash with the taller Carrera who has a record of 19-3 with 8 knockouts compared to Concepcion?s record of 25-1-1 with 14 knockouts.
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