Luevano-Concepcion on May 2 undercard

by SC on Feb 2, 2009 3:18 AM EST in News Comment 3 comments

Following a January 11 knockout of Kenyan Sande Otieno, 21-year old Filipino Bernabe Concepcion will move up to the big leagues at 126 pounds to challenge WBO featherweight titlist Steven Luevano on the Hatton-Pacquiao undercard on May 2 in Las Vegas.

Concepcion (28-1-1, 16 KO) has been touted by some as the country's "next Pacquiao," which is overreaching and a tall order for anyone, but he's got a chance to be a hell of a fighter for a long time. His lone loss came very early in his career at 118 pounds, when he was outpointed by journeyman Mark Sales, who last fought in 2006 and has a current record of 14-32-3. Concepcion has fought mostly at or around 122 pounds, but seems settled on featherweight for the time being.

Luevano (36-1-1, 15 KO) is a Pacquiao pay-per-view staple. He has fought on three of the last four Pacquiao PPV events, beating Antonio Davis (Pacquiao-Barrera II) and Terdsak Jandaeng (Marquez-Pacquiao II), and drawing with Mario Santiago (Diaz-Pacquiao). He was last in the ring on the Pavlik-Hopkins undercard, defeating Aussie stinker Billy Dib.

In other featherweight news, Jorge Solis stopped Monty Meza Clay on January 31 in Zapopan, Mexico. The end came in the fifth round, and improved Solis' record to 37-1-2 (27 KO). It also made Solis the top contender for the IBF title, currently held by Cristobal Cruz, who will defend against Cyril Thomas on February 14 in France.

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interesting match-up, good step up for concepcion and tough defense for luevano. if he gets by concepceion i’d love to see him rematch santiago.

by 3zilla on Feb 2, 2009 3:28 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Concepcion is another exciting fighter

Here’s to hoping he can press Luevano into action like Santiago did. I’m a bit surprised he’s still stepping up so soon. They were talking title fight for him a few months ago, then he struggled against a nobody.

I doubt he’s “the next Pacquiao”. He seems to have too many problems with cuts and swelling to end up being elite unless he really improves his defense.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Feb 2, 2009 9:31 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Next Pacquiao...

…he probably isn’t. He’s good though. In fact, He probably moves better than Pacquiao did at his age, and may even be better technically than Pacquiao was. But Pacquiao is a freak whose physical gifts simply made up for his technical deficiencies. At his lower weights he’d look awkward and off balance and not all that special then land with that hammer of a left hand and it was all over.

Concepcion’s management IS moving him along a little too quickly. I remember Roach mentioning that the kid has talent but wasn’t mind-blowing by any means. He struggled against Caro, but Caro it seems can hit a little and Concepcion looked overconfident. So it seems to me that that is the issue. Bernabe is a good fighter but not as good as he thinks or his management thinks. Hell, a few months ago they wanted a fight with JuanMa. That’s a sure way to shorten Concepcion’s career.

by Areglado on Feb 2, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs