CONCEPCION SHOULD HAVE NO TROUBLE AGAINST OTIENO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Jan 2009
World-rated North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion (27-1-1, 16 KO?s) should have no trouble against Kenya?s Sande Otieno (16-1, 7 KO?s) in their WBC Intercontinental featherweight title fight at the Araneta Coliseum late Sunday.
The southpaw Otieno who is coming off a controversial 5th round technical decision loss to Balweg Bangoyan in Davao City last October 11 is moving up in weight and came in at only 124.5 pounds compared to the hard-hitting Concepcion who tipped the scales at exactly 126 pounds.
The power-punching Concepcion, one of the most promising prospects in the Philippines should take out the Kenyan southpaw and possibly earn a shot at WBO champion Steven Luevano, a stylish southpaw with a record of 36-1-1, 15 knockouts, later this year or WBC champion Oscar Larios.
Luevano is scheduled to fight on April 4 but that may be too close for Concepcion unless he disposes of Otieno early in the fight at the Big Dome.
The other more attractive scenario would be for Concepcion to fight WBC champion Oscar Larios (63-6-1, 39 KO?s) who won the title by a split decision over Takahiro Aoh last October in Japan.
A Concepcion-Larios title fight in Manila would be an attraction since Larios, who lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Pacquiao at the Araneta Coliseum on July 2, 2006 is popular in the Philippines. Although Larios is the WBC champion he is 32 years old and has slowed down and Concepcion who is twelve years younger stands a better chance of defeating him.
Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz who is a partner of Pacquiao and Aljoe Jaro in handling Concepcion had earlier told us they were eyeing Luevano.
Pacquiao unfortunately won?t be at ringside to watch Concepcion, one of his prot?g?s, in action, as he was set to board a Philippine Airlines flight in Los Angeles Saturday in the US and is due in Manila on Monday, January 12.
Meantime, well-known boxing journalist Scott Mallon says he hasn?t heard of the opponent of light flyweight Sonny Boy Jaro (28-7-5, 17 KO?s) who last September 27 dropped a twelve round unanimous decision against WBC champion Edgar Sosa in Mexico.
The Thai opponent was identified as Naupayak Sakkrririn with a supposed record of 14-1 but well known boxing journalist Scott Mallon who covers the fights in Thailand extensively said he hadn?t heard of him.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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