CONCEPCION IS READY FOR THE BIG TIME
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 14 Jan 2009
Bernabe Concepcion bagged the vacant WBC International featherweight title Sunday night with a 5th round TKO win over Kenyan Sande Otieno. It was Concepcion ?s first fight in 2009 and was held at the celebrated Araneta Coliseum.
It was also the first time that Concepcion fought for a title in the country, as his past title bouts and defenses were held either in the US or Mexico . The promotion was a grand homecoming for Abe because he was able to show his wares again in front of his cheering countrymen, one thing he always dreamed of.
The 20-year-old warrior from Binangonan, Rizal won his 16th straight bout, when referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight upon the advise of the ringside physician during the break of the fifth round due to the severe cut above the Kenyan's left eye.
The gash was opened by a solid right straight from Concepcion in the third round. The Kenyan bravely stayed on his feet, but his blows could not disturb Concepcion, who showered Otieno with several straights.
"I knew from the first round that I would control the fight," said Concepcion, who improved his boxing record to 28-1-1 with 18 knockout wins. "I knew I could take his punches."
Concepcion's manager, Aljoe Jaro, said he hoped his boxer?s outstanding victory would earn him an undercard fight in the proposed Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton showdown in Las Vegas on May 2.
"Definitely, we will accept it if they offer us a fight in one of the undercard," said Jaro. If the fight supporting the Pacquiao-Hatton tussle will not be realized, Jaro said his inclination is a possible collision with Mexican Heriberto Ruiz who defeated Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista.
Concepcion may also be in line to fight WBC champion Oscar Larios who won over Takahiro Aoh last October in Japan . If the fight would materialize, it will be Abe?s best prospect to win a world title.
Last year, he successfully defended his North American Boxing Federation (NABF) twice by defeating Juan Ruiz and Torrence Daniels both by TKO, including a very impressive TKO win over Adam Carrera on the undercard of the Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto fight in Las Vegas .
Concepcion was born in Virac, Catanduanes and won his NABF superbantamweight title via a 4th round TKO win over Gabriel Elizondo in August 2007.
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