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No Puerto Rico fight for Concepcion


MANILA, Philippines – The man in-charge of charting the ring career of boxing prospect Bernabe Concepcion won’t accept fighting reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion Steven Luevano if the title bout will be held in Puerto Rico. Reacting to an ESPN report that Top Rank has already handpicked the Filipino as the challenger to Luevano, Aljo Jaro, Concepcion’s manager, said no way will the fight happen if it would be held in the small US territory by the Caribbean. “Wala pa silang tawag (They haven’t called yet)," said Jaro. “Pero kapag ginawa nila sa Puerto Rico, tatanggihan ko (But we will refuse the fight if it happens in Puerto Rico)." Luevano’s manager Cameron Dunkin did reveal that no opponent yet has been chosen for the WBO champion and that Concepcion is just one of the many options. But Jaro has a proposal to make if only for the 12-round bout to push through. “Gawin nila sa under card ni Manny Pacquiao `yung laban, hindi ko tatanggihan yan (Include the fight in Manny Pacquiao’s under card and we won’t refuse)." “Or dito nila gawin sa atin on March 15 sa Araneta Coliseum (Or hold it in the Philippines on March 15 at the Araneta Coliseum)." Added Jaro, obviously referring to the double title fight at the Big Dome featuring International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire and former WBC light-flyweight belt holder Brian Viloria. Like Luevano and Concepcion, Pacquiao is also under the Top Rank stable. The 27-year old Luevano in fact, had been in the under card of two Pacquiao fights in the past – against Juan Manuel Marquez for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-featherweight crown last March and opposite David Diaz for the WBC lightweight championship three months later. Considered one of the best technical fighters in boxing today, Luevano (36-1-1 with 15 KOs) has been WBO champion since 2006. Concepcion is being groomed as the next Filipino world boxing champion, winner of 28 of his 29 fights including 16 by KOs. He is coming off a fifth round technical decision victory over Kenyan Sande Otieno at the Araneta Coliseum early this month in a fight Jaro himself promoted. Given his status as a prospective world champion, Jaro said Top Rank should groom Concepcion as one. “Huwag naman sana nilang ilagay sa dehado na promotion si Abe, (Don’t make Concepcion an underdog)" he said, recalling how Arum has twice made last minute fight arrangement for the Filipino prospect.– GMANews.TV

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