ROCA: CONCEPCION WILL KNOCK OUT ARCE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Sep 2008
Las Vegas -- Hector Roca, the veteran trainer of the Gleasons Boxing Gym fame who masterminded the shocking defeat of top Filipino prospect AJ 'Bazooka' Banal in the hands of up-and-coming Panamanian superfly WBA interim champion Rafael 'El Torito' Concepcion last July 26 at the Cebu Coliseum, has predicted that Concepcion will knockout popular Mexican slugger Jorge 'Travieso' Arce when the two collide this Monday, September 15, in Mexico City.
Speaking via telephone from New York, Roca said that Arce (49-4-1 37KOs) "has been on the downward course and if he fights like he fought in his last fight, I have no doubt Torito (Concepcion) will knock him out."
Arce eked out a 12-round majority decision against Devid Lookmahanak of Thailand last May but racked up TKO wins against Medgoen Singsurat of Thailand and Mexican Tomas Rojas after an embarrassaring defeat against Cristian Mijares, considered the top dog in the superfly division, in April last year.
"Arce is the fighter on his way out while Concepcion [11-2-1 7KOs] is a young fighter coming up and is very hungry with a lot of heart. Concepcion, after shocking everyone by knocking out Banal last July, will become a star after he defeats Arce on Monday," Roca said.
Roca also said that Concepcion, who had trouble making weight against Banal, doesn't have that problem this time and is better-conditioned than he was.
Arce, whose come-forward all-out-war style with a naughty demeanor that earned him the nickname of 'El Travieso', is well-loved by the Mexican fans in the league of Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera and is expected to have the all-out support of local fans who will celebrate the Mexican Independece Day on the day of the fight.
In yesterday's press conference in Mexico City, Concepcion told the Mexican media "It will be a great fight because our styles are made for each other. I don't back down and only know how to go forward."
For his part, Arce said "I only know one thing, to beat me he is going to have to knock me out and to knock me out he is going to have to kill me, and you know that's not going to happen. He's going back to Panama without the belt."
Top photo: Rafael 'El Torito' Concepcion celebrates by lying on the canvas after his knockout victory over AJ 'Bazooka' Banal at the Cebu Coliseum last July 26.
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