Juanma vs. Concepcion…the day after

Concepcion lost. Live with it.

It’s not as if it is the end of the world for Concepcion. At 22, he’s got a long way to go. His second fight at featherweight he fought for the title. and got DQed after almost decapitating his opponent with a late punch. He again fought at feather against a rated fighter, in a fight he was supposed to lose, yet, somehow he found a way to deck the guy and repeatedly make him eat leather throughout the fight. A few months later, here’s Concepcion again, at 22, getting his second shot at the title, against a very very good fighter in Juanma, and in Puerto Rico at that – Juanma’s own backyard!

No shit everything’s going against Concepcion. Again, he was in a fight he was supposed to lose. In fact, the contract for Juanma’s mega-fight with Rafael Marquez was signed, sealed and delivered.

Concepcion lost. He fought Juanma’s game and paid dearly for it. He was not doing his usual feeling out rounds, getting comfortable, getting a jab or two in, then quickly darting out. In fact, Concepcion uncannily didn’t land a single jab. He was out of character chasing Juanma with powershots, leaving himself open for counters, and when he got caught, he spent the rest of the time trying to dodge Juanma’s blitz.

Concepcion’s 22. In a year or two, he’d probably get another shot or two at the title. Hopefully by then, it woulf be on even terms. Not in a situation where he needs to knock his opponent out to win. Concepcion showed us he’d got power, and gave Juanma his first taste of the canvas. He showed us he’s got chin, he took Juanma’s best shots and keep on ticking, maybe next time, he wouldn’t let that much land on him, just to land a few of his own. Concepcion’s young, he’ll learn.

So let’s not make like Ronnie Nathanielsz and give stupid excuses, Let’s not be like Ed dela Vega and blame some poor dude who practically didn’t have anything to do with his loss. Concepcion got KOed. This is his first real loss in quite a while, but we have to put it in perspective. Unlike Khan, Ortiz or Bautista, Concepcion wasn’t knocked out by a no-namer…he lost to Juanma Lopez, and Concepcion never quit.

Lopez vs. Concepcion

Concepcion ready for Juanma

Photo by Jose Perez/PRBBP

After a few days here in Puerto Rico, world ranked challenger Bernabe Concepcion is almost ready to get into the ring to battle Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez this Saturday at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in the “Challenge” a world championship fight promoted by Top Rank and PR Best Boxing Promotions and to telecast live on Showtime. “I am almost there. I will be set to go on Saturday. I have to work very hard to be ready for this fight and in the next few days is just about putting the final touches on my training,” said Concepcion yesterday during a media workout at the Wilfredo Gomez Gym in Guaynabo.

Lopez will defended his WBO featherweight championship against Concepcion, a very strong fighter who is getting his second shot at a world title.

“I know that I have to be at my best to defeat Lopez and I will be. If people think he looked good at 126 pounds, I will too. There are no secrets here between us, he is coming to fight and so am I. This one will be a war,” said Concepcion.

Concepcion worked very hard for 90 minutes under the watchful eye of Bubboy Fernandez, the good friend and corner man of Manny Pacquiao.

“It’s going to be a tough fight for both us. I don’t care that he is in his hometown. I came here to win and to take belt home; that’s why we work so hard for this fight,” Concepcion said.  > For more photos and details click here

Juanma Training Hard For a “Hungry” Concepcion

By Jhonny Gonzalez

WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez is less than a month away from making a defense of his title against Bernabe Concepcion on July 10 in Puerto Rico. Lopez is a big favorite to win and although there is already a tentative fight scheduled against Rafael Marquez on September 18, he is not overlooking the challenge of Concepcion, who Lopez described as a “hungry” fighter with power.

“His style is difficult because you don’t know what kind of punches he will throw. He’s strong. He’s only 22-years-old, even younger than me, and he has the desire to win,” Lopez told El Nuevo Dia.  > Link to Full Story here

Word from the Wild Card: Bernabe Concepcion focused and sparring Jr. Welterweight Ernie Zavala

If you are looking for a live underdog to root for this summer, Bernabe Concepcion may be your man. The 22-year old will find himself in the fight of his life this July 10th when he challenges dangerous WBO Featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico. Concepcion was granted the opportunity by defeating Lopez’ countryman Mario Santiago this past February at the Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada in a wild affair. > Full story here.

Santiago v. Concepcion Winner could get Juanma

By Rick Reeno

Next week’s featherweight bout between Mario Santiago (21-1-1, 14KOs) and Bernabe Concepcion (27-3, 15KOs) will be very interesting. BoxingScene.com has been informed the winner could become a candidate to fight WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez in the spring. Santiago-Concepcion takes place on the Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13 pay-per-view on February 13 from the Las Vegas Hilton. >>>link here

Concepcion Luevano Recap: Abe loses by DQ

Steven Luevano vs. Bernabe Concepcion

Concepcion No Undercard Ornament

by Joel Orellana for Business Mirror

MANNY PACQUIAO may be the toast of the world boxing community, but lurking in Pacman’s shadow is a potential world champion who has started to carve his own niche in the global arena.

Bernabe “Abe” Concepcion, the pride of Catanduanes, fights in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton mega buck fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary Atty. Cesar Sarmiento with Bernabe “Abe” Concepcion. photo courtesy of Rhoy Cobilla

Concepcion (28-1-1, 16 knockouts) will be going after the World Boxing Organization featherweight crown of Californian Steven Levano (36-1-1, 15 knockouts), his first shot at a world title.

But he won’t be a mere undercard ornament. The country will expectedly be feverishly rooting for him, like what is expected to go Pacquiao’s way.

And the first to do that are his fellow Cantanduanons, who on Friday night gave him a warm sendoff testimonial dinner at the Alano Hall of the Philippine Navy Golf Club.

The event was arranged by the Rotary Club of Parañaque. Government officials, businessmen and well-wishers from Catanduanes raised a glass for 21-year-old Concepcion, who is fast becoming the country’s newest boxing sensation.

For the record, Concepcion knocked out Sande Otieno of Kenya in the fifth round to clinch the World Boxing Council (WBC) International featherweight title on January 11 at the Araneta Coliseum. That was his 17th consecutive win.

“We feel [that] here in Metro Manila, no one is taking the initiative of recognizing the accomplishment of Bernabe Concepcion as a world boxing champion,” said Department of Transportation and Communications Assistant Secretary Atty. Cesar Sarmiento, who organized the event.

“That’s why we thought about this [testimonial dinner and sendoff] and hopefully this occasion would inspire Abe,” Sarmiento added.

Supporters are hopeful the young Concepcion would get as much attention—and cheers—as Pacquiao on fight night.

Full Story here >>>

Concepcion finally gets his first title shot vs. Luevano!

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Bernabe “Real Deal” Concepcion (28-1-1, 16 KO’s) battles WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano (36-1-1, 15 KO’s) on the undercard of the “Battle of the East and West” headlined by Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao against Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that he changed his original plan of staging the Concepcion fight on his April 25 card in Puerto Rico and moved it to May 2 because the April date was “no good, because trainer Freddie Roach wants to be with Concepcion” in his corner.

Arum said “obviously that’s a very important fight” for Concepcion but since it will take place during the training of Manny he decided to “accommodate everybody” by moving the Concepcion-Luevano title fight to May 2.

The 21 year old Concepcion who is managed by Aljoe Jaro in partnership with Pacquiao and Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz is coming off a 5th round technical decision win over gutsy Sande Otieno in a clash for the vacant WBC International featherweight title with Concepcion who was having a hard time making the super bantamweight limit of 122 moving up to featherweight.

Concepcion opened up a bad cut over Otieno’s right eye in the third round with a hard right and bloodied his face in the fifth forcing referee Bruce McTavish to call a halt on the advise of the ring physician.

Concepcion, the hard-hitting title prospect fought four times last year and won all four but had a tough time against Mexico’s Giovanni Caro over whom he scored an 8th round knockout after the ring physician had wanted to stop the fight in the previous round because the Filipino’s left eye was almost totally shut.

One report on the fight said that sensing urgency after seeing the doctor, Concepcion urged on by Pacquiao fought ferociously and landed a left-right combination that put Caro on the canvas for good.

Luevano is a 27 year old southpaw who won the title with an 11th round knockout of Britain’s undefeated Nicky Cook on July 14, 2007. He was held to a draw in a title defense against Mario Santiago last June 28 and in his last fight successfully defended his crown against Australia’s Billy Dib with a fairly comfortable twelve round decision.

Luevano is known for his speed and boxing ability and uses his left straight effectively although he doesn’t appear to have the power of Concepcion.