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MANILA, Philippines – Although Bernabe Concepcion’s professional career has been on a downward trend in recent years, the heavy right-handed puncher remains optimistic that he can turn things, starting with his fight this Friday, July 31 against Tanzania’s Juma Fundi at the 12,000-seater Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Concepcion (33-6-2, 19 knockouts) was once a highly-touted prospect in Philippine boxing, having the privilege of challenging twice for world title fights.
However, he failed to become a world champion, losing to Steven Luevano via seventh-round disqualification in August 2009 before suffering a second-round stoppage at the hands of Juan Manuel Lopez in July 2010.
Concepcion’s last trip to the elite level of boxing was in 2012, when he was knocked out in 7 rounds by Mikey Garcia in Puerto Rico.
Concepcion stressed that his 12-round bout versus Fundi (27-12-3, 11 KOs) will serve as a standard of measure to determine if he is still within the top-caliber rank in boxing.
“I consider this fight as my last chance. If I won’t walk out with the victory, I believe I can lose my confidence in fighting. I am putting everything on the line. My teams knows that I want another shot at a world title,” he told Rappler.
Seeking the best weight class to campaign at, the 27-year-old native of Viga, Catanduanes will take another gamble as he drops back down to junior featherweight after competing at featherweight for 7 years.
Concepcion remarked that his power punching remains formidable despite transferring to the 122-pound weight class.
“Super bantamweight is the right division for me. I feel so great at 122 pounds. I maintained my speed and footwork. The power is still there. Nothing changed at 122 pounds,” he stated.
According to Concepcion, the only thing that has changed is that he no longer relies solely on his signature right cross as he now throws more of his jabs and combinations.
“I really wish that I was a matured fighter back then because if I was the fighter that I am today, I have a lot more to offer inside the ring,” Concepcion quipped.
Concepcion’s manager Ryan Gabriel says that a win could reinsert his name in the world rankings if he can bag the vacant WBO Oriental super bantamweight championship with an impressive performance against Fundi.
“The initial plan is to bring him back in the world rankings of WBO or any title organization. If he remarkably wins this fight and them will be able to defend the belt twice or thrice, a world title fight is within our reach,” Concepcion’s young handler said.
Guillermo Rigondeaux is in the possession of the WBA, WBO and lineal junior featherweight belts, while Scott Quigg owns the WBA “regular” version.
The other two world title belts, the WBC and IBF, are held by Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton, respectively. – Rappler.com
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