LUIS CONCEPCION 112, NESTOR NARVAEZ 112 FOR WBC SILVER FLYWEIGHT TITLE IN PANAMA; "EL TORITO" CONCEPCION IN THE UNDERCARD
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 03 Aug 2013
Hard-hitting WBC Silver Flyweight Champion Luis "El Nica" Concepci?n (RIGHT) of Panama scaled-in at 112 lbs while Argentina challenger N?stor "Chifla" Narv?ez made 111.2 lbs ahead of their title clash Saturday (Aug 3) at the Roberto Duran Arena in Panama City, Panama.
The clash, the first title defense for Concepcion, will be the classic battle between two different boxing techniques: the aggressive puncher slugger eager to score a big knockout ("El Nica" Concepci?n) and the refined stylist (N?stor Narv?ez), owner of a classic defensive style and a boxing mode reminiscent of the fighting ways of legendary Argentinian Nicolino Locche ?The Untouchable.?
Both fighters looked in excellent shape and now they just wait for the first bell Saturday night.
"El Nica" Concepcion of Panama is a former WBA Flyweight world champion, who lost his title to "Tyson" Marquez and now aims at a fight with WBC world flyweight Akira Yaegashi, but he will have to overpower Narvaez and we shall see if he can as no Argentinian fighter is not an easy nut to crack.
However, the 31 year-old N?stor Narv?ez has plans of his own. The resident of Cordoba wants to enter Argentina boxing history books with a major title in boxing and this will be his second chance as he lost a close decision to former WBC champ Toshiyuki Igarashi last November in Japan.
N?stor is the younger brother of the veteran, reigning WBO Super Flyweight Super Champion Omar Narv?ez (39-1-2, 20 KOs).
The 27 year-old Luis "El Nica" Concepci?n (28-3, 21 KOs), because of his fighting style one of the most popular fighters in Panama, is the current WBC #2, IBF # 3 and WBO #9; while N?stor Narv?ez (19-1-2, 9 KOs) is WBC # 5.
The neutral WBC judges for the WBC Concepcion-Narv?ez title clash are Nicolas Hidalgo of Venezuela, Javier Camacho of M?xico and Chris Tellez of the USA. The referee is international third man Hector Af?.
EL TORITO IS BACK
In another exciting clash, hard-swinging former WBA interim Super flyweight champion Rafael "El Torito" Concepci?n is back in the ring against up and coming 20-year-old Nicaraguan super bantamweight German Lara.
But to all accounts, the 31 year-old "Torito" is no longer what he used to be. His speed has decreased and probably he should have remained in retirement, but he still wants to lace in his fists the 8-ounce gloves, how to say no to him?
In his prime he was an exciting boxer, ?El Torito," who faced champs as Nonito Donaire, Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce. Today, he weighed-in n @ 122 lbs while his opponent Lara made 119 lbs.
WORLD-RATED "EL MATEMATICO" NUNEZ VS ESPINOZA
IBF # 8 Ricardo "El Matem?tico" N??ez (25-3, 21 KOs) of Panama was supposed to battle former world title contender Nerys Espinoza of Nicaragua for the vacant interim WBO Latino flyweight title, but N??ez checked-in at 114 lbs while Espinoza made the 112 lbs, the limit of the flyweight division.
The 25 year-old N??ez is a former world title challenger. Last year, he fought tough South African Moruti ?Baby Face? Mthalane in a fast and furious paced battle in which both warriors sent each other hard to the canvas. Too bad for N??ez that he was the first one to run out of gas, and paid dearly for it, losing by TKO in round eight.
In addition, undefeated fight girl Sayda Mosquera (4-0, 3 KOs) of Panama battles compatriot Veronica Taylor in the bantamweight division.
Six more fights complete the boxing event produced by "Panama Promoter of the Year" Rogelio Espi?o of Promociones y Eventos del Istmo in association with TV Max Channel 9. The main WBC fight will be aired throughout Latin America on TyC Sports.
Concepcion and Navaez during the weighin (top) and during the presscon (above).
The author (R) with compatriots WBC Silver Champ Luis Concepcion (C) and former 2 Division World Champion Hilario Zapata Zapata (L) who outpointed in 15 rounds Filipino Dodie Boy Penalosa in Manila in 1986.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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