CONCEPCION TO CAMPAIGN AT FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION FOR WBC CROWN
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Jan 2009
Laredo, Texas (Jan. 9, 2009) ? Young, courageous Filipino boxer Bernabe ?Abe? Concepcion (27-1-1) 16 KOs will exchange leathers with tough, 33 years old, southpaw fighter Sande Otieno (16-1-0) 7 KOs from Kenya at the Araneta Coliseum, on Sunday, January 11, starting 6 pm (Philippine time) in Quezon City, Philippines.
This boxing match is for the vacant WBC International featherweight Championship crown. In the WBC ratings, Concepcion has been ranked #3 at Super bantamweight, but is in a different ranking at Featherweight where Oscar Larios is currently the WBC world champion. It is not known whether the winner of the main event dubbed ?Judgment in the Far East? will ever face Larios in the future. According to the WBC website- as of Jan. 8th, Japanese Promoter, Akihiko Honda sent a communication to the organization, informing them of the rematch between WBC Featherweight world champion, Mexican fighter Oscar Larios, and Japanese challenger Takahiro Aoh, which was properly signed to be held this coming March 12th, in Tokyo, Japan.
Everything has been going well in Concepcion?s training camp according to Aljoe Jaro.
?Abe is in excellent condition and ready to fight,? Jaro stated during an overseas phone conversation with this writer last night. ?We just finished the presscon today at the AIM Global office building in Ortigas and tomorrow will be the weigh-in.? ?Abe will not have any problems making weight this time,? he added.
Bernabe Concepcion was an undercard in the Cotto-Margarito fight at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas last July 26, 2008 where he beat Adam Carrera of Cathedral City, California by a 3rd round TKO at the catch weight of 124 lbs.
Concepcion moved up to the featherweight division after his most recent fight with rugged, durable Giovanni Caro of Mexico, where he won with an impressive 8th round KO at the Sycuan Resort Hotel & Casino, in El Cajon, San Diego, California last September 25, 2008. This successful event was Manny Pacquiao?s debut as a promoter in the USA.
During my overseas phone conversation with Concepcion earlier today, he said, ?I?m excited for this fight. It has been a while since I?ve fought in the Philippines. Aside from Kuya Aljoe, my brother Benjie, a former boxer, has been helping me with my conditioning and training. After a brief work out today, I weighed 126.5 lbs so I don?t think I will have problems making weight tomorrow.?
He added that, ?the weigh-in will be around 11:00 am (January 10) in Ortigas, Metro-Manila.?
Jaro International Boxing Promotion promotes the triple-header together with sponsors AIM Global and Rebisco Biscuits to be televised but on delayed telecast by Solar Sports thru the TV show ??Save by the Bell? as per Concepcion.
According to his promoter, tickets sales have been going well and the coliseum is already 80% sold out to capacity. Aljoe Jaro further said, ?This is also my biggest promotion and one of the most anticipated fights this year, which will also showcase my other boxers - Denver Cuello versus Yanus Emaury of Indonesia and Sonnyboy Jaro against Nanpayyak Sakkipin, from Thailand.?
It is noted that Bob Arum, Top Rank?s top honcho himself is quite impressed with Concepcion and has big plans for him during 2009. A win will be a nice birthday gift for Concepcion who turns 21 in Jan. 20. ?He better not lose this one,? quipped L.A. based Canadian Manager Mike Koncz when I asked him about Concepcion last week, in Los Angeles, California.
Top photo: Dr. Recto, as cutman, assisting world-renowned Coach/ main trainer Freddie Roach in Team Concepcion?s corner during fight vs Caro last Sept. ?08. (Photo by Miguel Salazar).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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