CONCEPCION RECEIVES BIG WELCOME IN PANAMA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 06 Aug 2008
Newly crowned World Boxing Association super flyweight interim champion Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion has received a big welcome on his return to Panama after scoring a tenth round knockout over AJ ?Bazooka? Banal to win the interim title at the Cebu Coliseum last July 26.
The CEO OF Optimum Sports Agency which manages Concepcion, Damon De Berry informed www.insidesports.ph as well as Viva Sports and Manila Standard Today that Concepcion was greeted by the officials of the Panamanian Boxing Commission and a representative of the WBA as well as other officials.
De Berry said Concepcion was escorted into a conference room for a press conference which lasted 30 minutes. Concepcion ?s mother, his wife Helen and baby daughter Allison were all present.
Concepcion was then escorted down to a public reception area where, De Berry reported ?there were loads of fans waving banners, cheering and clapping for Rafael.?
He said the interim champion was ?lifted up onto the shoulders of the fans and treated like the champion he is.?
The Optimum Sports Agency official who along with Concepcion earned the respect of Filipino boxing fans by their decent manners said it was a wonderful reception and was well covered by the Panamanian media.
Under a commitment made by Japan?s influential businessman-sportsman Akihiko Honda, Concepcion will be given a crack at the regular WBA super flyweight title before December 15 against the winner of the battle between No. 1 Nobuo Nashiro and No. 2 Kohei Kono scheduled for September 15 in Japan.
Top photo: Rafael with his wife Helen and baby daughter Alison during the press conferance held in Panama upon Concepcion's arrival.
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