FILIPINOS ON COTTO-MARGARITO UNDERCARD
CONCEPCION STEPS UP TO THE BIG SHOW!
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Jul 2008
Las Vegas, NV?Rising Super Bantamweight contender, Bernabe Concepcion, makes his HBO debut on the undercard of the highly anticipated Welterweight unification bout between WBA titlist, Miguel Cotto, and IBF titlist, Antonio Margarito. Concepcion, 25-1-1 (14 KOs), takes on the rugged Adam Carrera, 19-3 (8 KOs), in a ten round non-title featherweight bout (Conception holds the NABF 122lbs title). Carrera has not fought in almost one year and was knocked out in three rounds that fight.
PINOY FACES A TALLER FOE
Since Top Rank promotions and MP Promotions signed Concepcion in 2007, Abe has consistantly improved and gained expirence under the guidance of Freddie Roach. Many call Concepcion the ?next Manny Pacquiao?! He is in the right division to make a name for himself at 122lbs, which features elite boxers like Juan Manuel Lopez, Israel Vasquez, and Rafael Marquez. Concepcion is a boxer-puncher who possesses tremendous strength at 122lbs. However, later tonight (or early morning in the Philippines), Concepcion takes on taller opponent in Carrera. Standing side by side, Concepcion is the smaller fighter, which poses a new challenge for the 20-year-old.
AN INVESTED OBSERVER IN JUAN MA!
Obviously, because of the magnitude of tonight?s main event top fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico will be in the MGM Grand Arena to watch ?The Battle?. WBO Super Bantamweight titlist, Juan Manuel Lopez, was in attendance at the weigh-in and will watch the bouts live, supporting his fellow countrymen Miguel Cotto. Lopez?s and Concepcion?s pugilistic path seem to be headinging towards a collision course in the near future. Both fighters were actually scheduled to fight earlier in this year but Lopez had a title match against Daniel Ponce De Leon (which he won by a devastating one round stoppage) and neither fighter wanted to risk a loss to the other.
HOW ABE WINS SHOULD BE THE MAIN FOCUS
Vegas oddsmakers have Concepcion at -600, which means it takes a bet of 600 to win 100. Concepcion and his team members expect Abe to come away with the victory. Carrera has been knocked out twice and should be there for the taking in the early rounds because of his long layoff. Because the bout will be televised on HBO, an impressive victory is a must for Concepcion. Should Concepcion look flat and struggle to win a decision like he did two fights ago against Juan Ruiz, then Top Rank may just serve him up as an opponent to Lopez. However, an impressive victory could give him more HBO dates to build a bigger fan following and build up a potential match with Lopez. Whatever the case, Concepcion has the team in Manny Pacquiao, Freddie Roach, and Top Rank that all young fighters would kill to have. Now all we can hope is that Abe can deliver on the goods.
TORRES PROMISES NEVER TO AN OPPONENT AGAIN!
There was a point in time in the career of Super Bantamweight, Vernie Torres, where he was simply fighting for a paycheck. He did not care who his opponent was, where he was fighting, or when he was fighting. As long he got his paycheck he was happy. This is the classic tale of journeyman boxer. During the week of Manny Pacquiao?s bout against Jorge Solis last April 14, 2007, Vernie Torres was negotiating a fight against undefeated Mike Oliver. Torres was paid $10,000 on 18 days notice to fight all the way in Connecticut. Torres basically trained himself for that fight and lost a technical decision in eight rounds. Torres has lost his last five fights and has not won a fight since 2005.
TORRES IN MUST WIN FIGHT AGAINST FORMER ABE VICTIM
It seems that the same story has played out for his upcoming fight on the non-televised undercard of Cotto-Margarito. Torres will take on Ben Flores, whose last loss came against Concepcion in a very competitive bout. In the eyes of Team Flores, Torres is a stepping-stone to bigger and better things. However, Torres has been training since early May, working Pacquiao?s training assistances, Boboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri. This is the most prepared Torres has been for a fight in a long time. At 34, Torres does not have much time left in the sport so he needs to strike when the opportunity presents itself.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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