By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBA super flyweight interim champion Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion is banking on history in his battle for the interim title against Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, Manila Time in a fight card telecast by Solar Sports and GMA 7.
In a final press-public preview Concepcion pointed to the fact that Panama fighters “Do not lose to Filipinos. We are 4-0 in title fights” including his own stunning 10th round knockout of highly-fancied AJ “Bazooka” Banal in a WBA interim title fight at the Cebu Coliseum in 2008.
Other Panamanians who defeated Filipinos in world title fights were flyweight Alfonso Lopez who won by a 15th round TKO over Erbito Salavarria at the Araneta Coliseum on February 27, 1976, light flyweight Hilario Zapata who beat Dodie Boy Penalosa also by a 15-round unanimous decision at the ULTRA on July 5, 1986 and WBA bantamweight champion who sc ored a unanimous twelve round decision over Rolly “Matsushita” Lunas in Panama on October 30, 2008.
Concepcion who is trained by Rigoberti Garibaldi and did most of his preparation in the Pedro Alcazar Gym in Panama said "I know Las Vegas and I know there will be Latino fans in the arena rooting for me on Saturday night. There will be Mexican fans for sure on my side. I've trained hard and I will win.”
The tough Panamanian has a record of 13-3-1 with 8 knockouts. He is trained by Rigoberti Garibaldi who used to work the corner of Ricardo Mayorga.
Donaire who trained at the Undefeated Gym in San Carlos, California before winding down his preparation at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas said he had seen a video of Concepcion’s hard fight with Mexican warrior Jorge Arce which ended in the 9th round when Concepcion retired.
Donaire noted “He has a lot of heart which tells me he can be very dangerous inside the ring. I am going to rely on my speed and power to get through this one. “
Looking to the future, Donaire who moved up from the flyweight limit and relinquished his IBF and IBO 112 pound titles said that before he moves up once again to fight as a bantamweigh he wants to fight Arce and former WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel.
Donaire said “Those two are on my mind and it doesn't matter who is first."
The exciting “Pinoy Power 2” card presented by Top Rank "Pinoy Power 2," will feature two world championship fights, including the clash between WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano defending his title against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Bernabe Concepcion of the.
The telecast will also feature undefeated Top-Five junior lightweight contender Anthony Peterson in a 10-round bout against Luis Arcero of Tijuana, Mexico, and promising southpaw and super lightweight contender Mark Jason Melligen on the ALA Gym in a 10-round rumble with 5’11” veteran Ernesto “Baby Face” Zepeda (39-12-4, 34 KO’s) who is a last minute replacement for Michel Rosales of Mexico who couldn’t get a visa.
The 32 year old Zepeda lost a unanimous eight round decision to Matthew Hatton, brother of RBicky “The Hitman” Hatton on the Manny Pacquiao-Hatton undercard last May 2 in Las Vegas and has fought a number o/f solid opponents including Rogelio Castaneda Jr to who m in lost in an IBA title fight on December 2, 2005.
The Melligen-Zepeda clash ensures that the intense Philippine-Mexican rivalry continues in boxing originally sparked by Filipino boxing hero and the world’s No.1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao.
