IS CONCEPCION BEING FED TO THE LIONS?
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Jul 2010
I vividly remember a conversation I had with the former handler of Bernie Concepcion right after the Lopez-Concepcion fight was announced.
The gentleman I spoke to said: ?Doc, we can?t do much about it but I feel the Abe is being fed to the lions. If I had my way, I would not take this fight at this time.?
The guy could be absolutely right.
In paper Abe Concepcion has a puncher?s chance against Juan Ma. Lopez. I know that Buboy Fernandez, his trainer will swear to that. But sad to say, in my opinion Concepcion does not have a prayer unless of course he lands that proverbial ?Hail Mary?.
I sincerely wish that I am wrong but realistically all things point towards the negative for the kid from the Bicol region. I said it once and I say it again. Concepcion is not ready at this time to tangle with the Puerto Rican warrior. Perhaps after another two to three fights with named fighters it will be a different story.
Other than the money Concepcion will make (and so does Koncz), it is hard to understand Koncz? rationale to put Concepcion against Lopez at this time.
Hey nothing personal, but I guess Koncz should take better care of the young fighters that are under his care who were entrusted to him by the MP Promotions particularly now that Pacquiao may not have time to pay attention to details himself.
Koncz may say I do not know what I am talking about. But, I beg to disagree.
For one, he agreed to have Concepcion fight Lopez in Puerto Rico. That in itself is a huge disadvantage for Concepcion. It does nothing but add more load to the already heavy burden that Concepcion must carry.
They could have set the fight anywhere, even in Mexico. Las Vegas would have been ideal. But not in Puerto Rico!
It could be true that Top Rank made that decision. But is Koncz a pathetic ?yes man?, and have no say on that?
I hope not. Otherwise he should not be ?negotiating? for boxers under the aegis of the MP Promotions!
Lopez I am sure will fight his guts out to put up a show for his people. Why not? He is in his home turf and a good show will further endear him to the Puerto Ricans who don?t have too many fighters to brag about anymore particularly now that Miguel Cotto is on his way down, his victory over Yuri Foreman not-with-standing.
As far as I can see, Concepcion is just a stepping stone towards the big fight between Lopez and Rafa Marquez and thereafter, Yuriorkis Gamboa. It does not take an Einstein to figure that out. In fact that could well be the grand plan of Top Rank. On the other side of the coin, I sincerely wish that Lopez will look past Concepcion and get his ass kicked. I mean that with all my heart.
A Concepcion win will of course make a genius out of Koncz and I will be eating my words. But, I will gladly do that.
I hope that the Lopez who would come up the ring in Puerto Rico is the same Lopez that fought Roger Mtagwa and not the Lopez that battered Steven Luevano to win the WBO featherweight title or the Lopez that blasted Daniel Ponce de Leon and Sergio Medina
both in one round.
Anyway, I wish Abe Concepcion my very best and I will be in seventh heaven if he will prove me wrong.
God speed, Abe!
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