Watch Bernabe Concepcion vs Yuriorkis Gamboa (Where) / Another Huge Test For Bernabe

Oh no, it seems after fighting Steven Luevano, Bernabe Concepcion (27 wins 3 losses 15 Kos) will face another formidable opponent, former Olympic gold medalist (Cuba) Yuriorkis Gamboa (16 wins 0 loss 14 Kos) on the 23rd of January, 2010 for the World Boxing Association World Featherweight Title. Concepcion vs Gamboa looks promising, and this will be the Filipino's second chance to win a Featherweight title and I do hope he takes advantage of this opportunity or he'll find up like Mayol and Rubillar, perennial title contenders and never the winners.

For Concepcion vs Gamboa, if the fight does materialize, the former should work on his defense as Yuriorkis Gamboa is one offensive-minded boxer and a powerful puncher (only two opponents survived him rest were kayoed). The good news for Concepcion is he won't have to chase Gamboa around as he can be sure the Cuban will confront him head-on. Besides, Concepcion has power too. He staggered Luevano in the last fight though he wasn't able to follow it up and finish the title holder. In his career, Gamboa has shown propensity to go down - Adailtan De Jesus, Darling Jimenez, and Marcos Ramirez (elbow) have knocked down the Cuban. However, Gamboa has shown resiliency to come back and win the fight. But, the point is Gamboa can be exposed. Unlike Gamboa's previous opponents, Concepcion fists' can end the fight fast.

Concepcion has many things to worry about Gamboa, the latter has speed, quickness, power and all other physical gifts. But in the ring, it only takes one good punch to finish your opponent off. Yes, this is a huge test for Bernabe Concepcion, but winning a world boxing title is never easy and he has to be confident with his ability. He can do it.

Where can we watch Concepcion vs Gamboa? So far, nothing has been finalized yet.

Concepcion vs Luevano

Bernabe Concepcion vs Steven Luevano

It has been confirmed that Bernabe Concepcion (28 - 1 - 1 16 kos) of the Philippines will fight Steven Luevano (36 - 1 - 1 15 kos) for the WBO Featherweight title in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao vs Ricky Hatton match. What a great opportunity for Concepcion! Although many boxing fans in the country say he is still a bit raw fighting a very technical and world-class boxer like Luevano. Yes, Steven Luevano is world-class by virtue of his World Championship belt. Whatever.

Concepcion is given a rare opportunity to showcase his talents and he took it. Obviously, many good things will happen if Concepcion beats Luevano. However can he do it? Roach said Concepcion has a "puncher's chance" of winning the fight. Yes, Abe can win but he needs to fix his defense first. He has a bad habit of keeping his hands down and if keeps on doing it against Luevano he'll be in trouble. Luevano can box his way into victory - his speed might trouble Concepcion as the Filipino seem to be slow esp. in his recent fight against Otieno. Freddie Roach has many things to correct in Concepcion but not his power. His last four fights ended up with a knock out win in his favor. On paper, Concepcion has the advantage in punching power and we will see how effective it is once he meets a top caliber opponent in Luevano. Concepcion can win.

Concepcion vs Luevano is a great undercard esp. as most pre-main event fights have been boring recently save for Juan Ma Lopez vs Sergio Manuel Medina which ended abruptly.


Update 4 - 1 - 2009
Concepcion vs Luevano is cancelled after the latter got injured in training. My goodness! I hope they reschedule the match.

Update 4-29-2009
Concepcion will still fight in the Pacquiao vs Hatton undercard against Yogli Herrera according to Steve Kim of Maxboxing.com

Update:
Concepcion vs Luevano will be in the undercard of Donaire vs Concepcion fight on August 15, 2009.

It was not only Otieno who got hurt last Sunday

It was not only Sande Otieno who got hurt by Bernabe Concepcion last Sunday but some crabs in Philboxing.com forums. Whenever a Filipino boxer wins - it is low tide in Pacland with crabs coming out from every corner (few but very noisy). The former NABF and WBC World Youth champion is insulted as bum by bum handles brave enough not to give out their real names in the forum. Thanks to Bernabe Concepcion's win -- he Kayoed those haters and paid hacks from other promotions who use Philboxing as venue for their venom. HA! HA! HA! Concepcion won spectacularly! Does it hurt falling in your chair? Nothing pleases me more than seeing Abe or any other Filipino boxer proving their haters' wrong.

The number of crabs in Philboxing forums is getting out of hand. It is not only Bernabe Concepcion who get the diss but Boom Boom Bautista (no.1 haters' target), and AJ Bazooka Banal. This is how it works - if these boxers lose - they are called bums. But if our boxers win their opponents are called bums in the vain attempt to take away the glory. Is Otieno a bum? No, he is a former WBC International Superbantamweight champion. Don't take the credit away from Concepcion who was just too fast and strong for the Kenyan.

There's also a conscious attempt to pit Bautista and Concepcion. There's nothing wrong with that as long as it is done in the boxing ring. Some people in Pacland suspect rival promotions are using Philboxing forums to dish out venom against fighters whom they consider a huge threat to their own. It could be possible. Some handles praising the heavens and glorifying Bautista are usually the ones bringing down Concepcion vice versa. If the Pacland handles' assertions are true, then I think it would be better for them to concentrate on honing their boxers' skills than spend time bringing other people's fighters down. The Philippines will have more world champions in the process. Think about it.

By the way, I know the difference between criticism (either constructive or not) and plain hating. What some people are doing to Concepcion and other Filipino boxers is just pure hating and I don't like that!

Bernabe Concepcion defeats Sande Otieno via KO

Concepcion vs Otieno Fight Chronicle

Bernabe Concepcion defeated Sande Otieno of Kenya via technical knockout with the African's corner stopping the fight at the end of fifth round last night at the Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines. It was a great fight for Concepcion who won the WBC International Featherweight Title in the process. The match started slowly for Abe who was a bit cautious at the start. But as the first round wore on his powerful rights started connecting and Otieno was greatly bothered by it. The second and third round were very much the same and Bernabe Concepcion became too comfortable and began showboating instead of finishing off Otieno. (C'mon Abe, you're not Joe Calzaghe fighting a washed up boxer here.) Concepcion's right hands continue to inflict damage to the African with the latter's nose bleeding from the blows by the fifth round. Concepcion also began targeting the cut on above Otieno's right eye - bloodying it. Otieno's corner saw enough and called it quits at the end of fifth round.

Fight Impressions
Next time, Concepcion should stop showboating and his bad habit of keeping his hands down for it makes him susceptible to lucky punches. If possible Bernabe should finish his opponent as quickly as he can. Concepcion's performance was okay but he needs to brush up on his defense. He let himself open at times which is a bad habit esp. against world-class oppositions such as Luevano and Daniel Ponce De Leon - Concepcion's next possible opponents.

Bernabe Concepcion is a former WBC Youth Bantamweight and NABF Super Bantamweight champion. If you hear people say he's a bum - they don't know their boxing and probably works for rival promotions.

Rounds 2-3: No complete video yet

Bernabe Concepcion Wins!

Filipino boxer Bernabe Concepcion defeated Torrence Daniels via second round technical knock-out in Mexico to successfully defend his NABF superbantam title. The commentators thought there was a clash of heads earlier but replays showed Abe's right hit the jackpot - Daniels' chin. Bernabe smelled blood and finished the fight off quickly - a great showing by the Filipino fighter. Congratulations!

Bernabe Concepcion