
PINOY PRIDE XXII: 'EL TORITO' CONCEPCION RETURNS TO CEBU TO TAKE ON SERVANIA
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Sep 2013

CEBU CITY ? Panamian slugger Rafael 'El Torito' Concepcion, the fighter who, on July 26, 2008, caused a huge letdown to Filipino fans and scuttled grand plans from ALA Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions by knocking out then fast rising Cebuano prospect AJ 'Bazooka' Banal in the 10th round of their WBA Interim super flyweight world title bout at the Cebu Coliseum, returns to Cebu to take on undefeated ALA stalwart Genesis 'Azukal' Servania on October 26 for 'Pinoy Pride XII' at Cebu's Waterfront Hotel. Titled 'The Revenge', which also co-features undefeated 'King' Arthur Villanueva, this installment of the highly successful Pinoy Pride series was announced during Monday's press conference at Sarrosa Hotel in Cebu City.
The damaged caused by Concepcion on that fateful day of July was so deep that Banal, after 5 years of rebuilding his career, never overcame the stigma of that defeat. ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer confessed that the emotions and expectations of the Banal-Concepcion fight came rushing back to him on the way to Monday's presscon.
?We had a tele-conference with Oscar de la Hoya at noon the day of the fight,? Aldeguer narrated. ?Everything was set. Banal was the uncrowned champion. We were supposed to hold a press conference after the fight to announce that Banal will be taking on Jorge Arce next.?
As it turned out, the press conference never came. The Filipino fans exited Cebu's historical arena with blank faces. ALA Promotions and Golden Boy's Eric Gomez went home empty handed. Concepcion, who was not given much of a chance by boxing experts against Banal, went back to Panama with the championship belt and went on to fight Jorge Arce next.
Now, Concepcion (18-6-1, 8KO) will take on another up-coming and undefeated ALA fighter in Genesis Servania (22-8-0, 8KO) for the WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight title. Will history repeat itself? Or will it be a different story?
?I have no pressure for this fight,? Servania, who picked himself up twice in the canvas during his last outing in Macau against Konosuke Tomiyama of Japan, told the Cebu media. ?I'm sure I'm going to get revenge for AJ.?
Servania's confidence may not be unfounded. After getting a beating from Arce in 2008 where the referee mercifully stopped the fight in the 9th round, Concepcion, because of his come forward style, received more punishments from elite fighters Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel, among others. After losing to Venezuela's Liborio Solis in October, 2011, 'El Torito' briefly retired from the sport only to return in April this year where he won his two comeback fights.
This fight will not be about Servania's chances of winning against Concepcion but it will be more about how much left in Concepcion as a fighter.
Top photo (L-R): Arthur Villanueva, Genesis Servania, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer and trainer Edito Villamor during Monday's press conference at the Sarrosa Hotel in Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Concepcion (L) knocks down Banal during their July 26, 2008 world title fight in Cebu City. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Co-headlining the event is Bacolod's Arthur Villanueva (23-0-0, 13KO), the current OPBF superfly champion, who will take on Jose 'Matador' Cabrera (22-3-2, 10KO) of Mexico for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific super flyweight title.
For Servania and Villanueva, this will be their first time headlining a Pinoy Pride event.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
Tue, 09 Sep 2025GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Rizal Memorial Coliseum: The Arena That Endured War and Forged Generations of Filipino Greats
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 09 Sep 2025“The Homecoming” turned into Coronation for Marco Romero
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz Speaks After Pushing Eduardo Nunez to the Limit in Thrilling War – A Potential Fight of the Year
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Locked & loaded for Lewis Crocker rematch, Paddy Donovan has prepared to be crowned the new IBF Welterweight World Champion
Mon, 08 Sep 2025Robby Gonzales Advances to Round of 16 with Win Over Cuba
Mon, 08 Sep 2025James Padua rules Marikina rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Sep 2025