By Rey Danseco
MANNY Pacquiao will not feel lonesome or even homesick during his training. Another fellow Filipino fighter, Bernabe “Kamaong Llave” Concepcion, has joined him at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
Concepcion, flew into Hollywood on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila), and reported to Freddie Roach’s sweatshop the following day to resume the final phase of his training.
The 20-year old native of Virac in Catanduanes will make his initial NABF super bantamweight title defense at the Domo De La Feria in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico on Feb. 9. He will face American Juan Ruiz, who is coming off two consecutive unanimous decision defeats.
Pacquiao has been put in seclusion while in the gym to make himself more comfortable and focused during his rigid training for the anticipated difficult rematch with WBC super featherweight king Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Other Filipinos in the popular gym along Vine Street are WBo bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa, who arrived in Los Angeles along with Pacquiao, and former world title challengers Diosdado Gabi and Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol.
Penalosa is preparing for his first title defense in a rematch against his previous technical knockout victim, Ratanachai Sor Vorapin on March 2 at Araneta Coliseum.
Gabi will make appear in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Marquez clash. He will challenge unbeaten WBO/NABO bantamweight boss Abner Mares (15-0, 9 KOs).
Mayol is still waiting for his next schedule after coming off in a TKO loss in the 8th round against IBF light flyweight king Ulises Solis in August.
