Luevano vs. Concepcion: Will a Rematch Ever Happen?
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 18 Aug 2009
Referee Jay Nady (c) disqualifies Bernabe Concepcion (R) as Steven Luevano (L) lays flat on the canvas assisted by his trainer Robert Garcia. (Photo credit/ Sumio Yamada)
Las Vegas, Nevada – After a controversial disqualification loss by Filipino challenger Bernabe Concepcion (28-3-1, 16 KO’s) to WBO Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KO’s) last Saturday night at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, boxing fans should call for a rematch. Both fighters want it. Disqualification happens at the sole discretion of the referee. The fight ended inconclusively except the fouled opponent Luevano retained the WBO Featherweight World Championship title. Referee Jay Nady ruled the final decision to disqualify (DQ) Concepcion after he threw a combination punch hitting Luevano squarely in the chin and causing him to lay flat in the canvas, unfortunately, right after the bell rang at the end of Round 7.
According to Concepcion, he did not hear the bell and the punch was not intentional. Whether the punch was intentional or not is immaterial at this point because a DQ is still considered a loss. Luevano was clearly fouled and Concepcion’s trainer Freddie Roach admits it was a good call. The only thing Roach argued with the referee about was that he did not consider it intentional. Roach yelled at the referee, “How did you know it was intentional?” Referee Jay Nady shouted back twice, “Don’t argue with me!”
World famous trainer Freddie Roach (R) argues decision made by Las Vegas referee Jay Nady (L). (Photo credit/ Sumio Yamada)
Whether Concepcion heard the bell or not remains a mystery to everyone but the ruling by referee Jay Nady was upheld by both Nevada State Athletic Commission’s Executive Director Keith Kizer and WBO VP for North America and Supervisor for the fight who was present, Mr. Richard De Cuir.
It could have been more controversial if the referee ruled a double disqualification (Double DQ) had he determined the fighter Steven Luevano was acting up, hence, could not continue the fight. In that circumstance, if both fighters were disqualified, it would be held as a “no contest” or (NC) which is almost as if the fight never occurred. But we would only be speculating if we state Luevano indeed was overacting. That again is another mystery which only Luevano will ever know. Team Concepcion has reasons to believe that Luevano stayed longer than he needed to (in the canvas) after getting directions from his trainer Robert Garcia to stay down, as well as “faking” being knocked-out. Other people in the audience state Concepcion threw a cheap shot. “Boo’s” were heard when Michael Buffer announced the decision.
Ringside Physician examines WBO Featherweight champ Steven Luevano as he lies down in the squared circle. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ed De La Vega)
After the fight, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach advised Concepcion who looked disappointed inside the locker room. Roach told him, “Bernabe, listen to me, you could have done that in the first round. You were overly cautious and thinking too much. You can’t do that as a fighter. You waited a bit too long instead of letting your hands go and throwing combination punches. He couldn’t hurt you. Don’t blame yourself, you’re a great fighter, we’ll fight him again!”
“The referee should have done his job and this would not have happened,” reacted Michael Koncz, the boxing agent of Concepcion. “The referee should have stepped in between those two guys when the bell rang, “ he added.
Immediately post-fight, Bob Arum stated, “The referee made a bad decision. We will do a rematch, hopefully, in December. Both fighters should get more money if that happens.” Luevano’s manager Cameron Dunkin when seen outside the venue echoed this statement and he commented to this boxing writer when asked, “Oh yeah, there will be a re-match. We already talked to Bob and he agreed.”
Later that night, the World Featherweight Champion Steven Luevano was with his family, friends and fans that gathered near him at the hotel lobby. He looked perfectly well and was even smiling. This writer asked for his comments and he disclosed, “Bernabe Concepcion is a good fighter. I’m pretty sure he didn’t do it on purpose, but whether it was or it wasn’t, what happened happened and I’m not mad about it. He did hit me with a good shot and I’m just hoping we could do it again.”
When queried about him touching gloves with Concepcion after each round, he said, “Yeah, I always do that as a sign of respect and like saying…hey, that was a good round…maybe, we could do that round again. It was a good round.”
When asked regarding a proposed rematch in December, he stated, “I don’t know. Maybe it may happen or may not happen. They always say the date but who knows. But yeah, I definitely would like a rematch.”
On Monday, August 17, Koncz will meet with Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum at his office and discuss the re-match issue and hopefully, get Team Luevano to agree on the proposed December schedule. He would like for Bernabe Concepcion to train alongside Manny Pacquiao in the future.
Follow-up punch lines: Top Rank considered the event “Pinoy Power 2” a success. The 2,600 capacity venue had an attendance of 1,838 despite an additional 800 seats (VIP suites) upstairs had to be used to accommodate media and photographers, hence, the crowd turnout. In the Top Rank PPV main event, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (22-1-1, 14 KOs) won the vacant Interim Super Flyweight Championship match against rugged Panamanian Rafael Concepcion (13-4-1, 8 KOs). The boxing show’s scene-stealer was Filipino Super Lightweight 23-year-old Mark Jason Melligen who won by brutal TKO against Mexican veteran fighter Ernesto Zepeda (39-13-4, 32 KOs). The performance of Bernabe Concepcion was deemed to have been lackluster. His Filipino manager Aljoe Jaro was not satisfied and blames unsupervised training to be the cause. He could not understand why Concepcion did not apply pressure and throw combination punches like in his previous fights. “Being the challenger he should have been more aggressive,“ Jaro declared. Experienced cutman in Concepcion’s corner, Miguel Diaz, who stated he had been 40 years in boxing could be heard shouting, “Attack, attack, attack him!”
The official score card showed Judges Steve Morrow and CJ Ross, 67-66 and 68-65 respectively for Luevano and only Judge Glenn Trowbridge had it for Concepcion 67-66. It reads – Luevano won by disqualification at the end of Round # 7.
Referee Jay Nady (R) raises arm of WBO Featherweight Champ Steven Luevano (c) who retains title with controversial DQ decision to Concepcion. (Photo credit/ Sumio Yamada)
Bernabe Concepcion (R) connects with a straight right to upper body of Steven Luevano. (Photo credit/ Sumio Yamada)
Southpaw fighter Steven Luevano (R) tags Bernabe Concepcion with his signature right jab. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Ed De La Vega)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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