By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Hard-hitting Bernabe Concepcion has what trainer Freddie Roach believes is “a puncher’s chance” when he faces WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano on the undercard of the “Battle of East and West” headlined by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2.
In an overseas telephone conversation from the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles with insidesports .ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Roach said that while Luevano (36-1-1, 15 KO’s) is “not a big puncher, he is a very smart boxer.”
The celebrated trainer who honed the raw skills of Pacquiao to make him a four- division world champion and the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world conceded that Concepcion ’s title fight against Luevano is “obviously a difficult fight” but added that “Abe is a good puncher and has a good puncher’s chance.”
He said Concepcion (28-1-1, 16 KO’s) would train alongside Pacquiao when the boxing icon reports to the Wild Card gym by March 1 for the tough grind in preparation for the Hatton showdown and Concepcion should benefit from it.
Roach noted that in his last fight for the vacant WBC Intercontinental featherweight title in which Concepcion scored a 5th round technical decision over game Sandy Otieno of Kenya at the Araneta Coliseum, Concepcion “started a little slow against an experienced fighter but he came on strong.”
Referred to as the “Real Deal,” Concepcion was originally scheduled to fight on Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s April 25 card in Puerto Rico which will feature WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa against super bantamweight champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez for the Puerto Rican's WBO 122 pound crown but decided to move the Concepcion fight to May 2 as the April date was “no good because trainer Freddie Roach wants to be with him 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 opened up bad cut over Otieno’s right eye in the third round and bloodied his face in the fifth forcing referee Bruce McTavish to call a halt on the advise of the ring physician.
Concepcion, one of the more promising world title prospects who also draws inspiration and support from Pacquiao, had four fights last year and won them all. However, he did have a rough 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 be able to match the power of Concepcion .
