By Rey Danseco
WELL-KNOWN American promoter Bob Arum has assured the most popular boxer from the Bicol Region, Bernabe “Kamaong Llave” Concepcion, a world title shot after a minimum of two and maximum of three successive wins.
Arum told Concepcion (24-1-1, 13 KOs) to work on his footwork and try to score spectacular wins, starting on his next title defense against aging American Torrence “Dynamite” Daniels on April 26 in Queretaro, Mexico.
“He said I am two to three fights away before I get a shot at the (world) championship,” Concepcion quoted Arum as saying after he defended the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super bantamweight title in a hard-fought 12-round battle against veteran American Juan Ruiz on Feb. 9 in Leon, Mexico.
Arum eyes World Boxing Council (WBC) super bantamweight champion Israel "Magnifico" Vazquez and possibly World Boxing Organization super bantamweight king Daniel Ponce De Leon, both of Mexico.
The WBC ranks the 20-year-old fighter of Barangay San Carlos, Binangonan, Rizal by way of Barangay Rizal, Viga, Catanduanes, as No. 11, while the WBO rated him No. 12.
Concepcion, a devoted Iglesia ni Kristo, came home Tuesday morning and plans to resume his training and joins the throng of Filipino boxers, headed by Manny Pacquiao, at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California next week. Concepcion’s foe is inexperienced with a record of ten wins, three loses and a draw with four of his victories were by knockouts. Daniels will make his first fight over eight rounds.
The most popular fighter from Bicol revealed that he’s always excited to train along with Pacquiao. They stays together at the posh Palazzo East apartment in Park La Brea in 348 Hauser Boulevard, Los Angeles with fellow Filipino boxers Diosdado Gabi, and Bobby Pacquiao and trainers Buboy Fernandez, Nunoy Neri and Ben Delgado.
Concepcion was reported to have earned $50,000 (roughly P2.05 million) in Ruiz fight, but he admitted that he was told his purse was $15,000 (roughly P615,000).
The young boxer, who also holds the WBC Youth super bantamweight belt, said he saves his earnings in the bank and supports his family in Catanduanes.
