|
 It was about an hour before fight time last Sunday when Chino Trinidad and I entered Bernabe Concepcion’s dressing room at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Chino was going to call the main event of the “Judgment in the Far East” card for Solar Sports and wanted to check on Concepcion’s preparation for this title fight against Kenyan Sande Otieno for the WBC International featherweight crown.
Inside, Aljoe Jaro boxing stable hands made sure that Concepcion, Denver Cuello, and Sonny Boy Jaro had everything they needed for the fight. Family members and fans came in and out but Concepcion was loose and jovial as he granted requests to pose for pictures.
In less than an hour, Concepcion became the new champion after forcing Otieno to stay on his stool for the sixth-round bell.
“Abe” was 17 when he began to pummel opponents in four rounders. Even then, the raw power was evident, emanating from a muscle-bound body that seemed to loom larger due to television’s ability to make one appear bigger.
There was no question he was somebody to watch. The In This Corner boxing program crew would be excited when Concepcion was on the card because a display of power was forthcoming.
To date, that power has engineered a record of 28 wins and two draws against one loss. Seventeen of his triumphs, including the one against Otieno, have been via KO.
Concepcion was warming up in front of a mirror and reminiscing about his journey to fulfill his boxing dream. I asked him if it was harder now waiting for his fight because he was in the main event.
“Hindi naman po (Not really),” Concepcion said.
When he was still starting out as a four-rounder, he didn’t know when his next fight would be. Now, he is accustomed to having fights at least every two or three months.
In the fight, Concepcion nailed Otieno repeatedly with right uppercuts and straights. In the third round, Otieno felt there was something in his eye, prompting referee Bruce McTavish to call Dr. Redan Viernes. There was a cut on his left eyelid, but the ring doctor allowed the fight to continue.
Viernes, however, felt that the Kenyan corner did not handle the wound well between rounds and this affected Otieno’s vision.
Concepcion’s power shots that included a wicked right straight in the fourth added to the frustration of the game Kenyan.
At fight’s end, delighted supporters from Binangonan, Rizal, where the Aljoe Jaro stable is based, and Catanduanes, Concepcion’s hometown, made it nearly impossible to talk to the new champion in the hallway leading to the locker rooms.
I managed to sneak in when Concepcion headed to Otieno’s dressing room to check on his battered opponent. He revealed that he knew exactly what to do, even in the third round when it looked like the Kenyan had him in trouble.
We could have easily titled this “Concepcion: The Next Pacquiao?” given that the young fighter looks like the next bright star in Philippine boxing. He could very well be the “Real Deal” as his moniker goes. But Concepcion is totally different, with his own unique style and pace.
It’s just great to know that Pacman has opened the road for huge fights for the next batch of Filipino ring heroes. Concepcion acknowledges Pacquiao’s support, fondly calling him Kuya Manny. In fact, Concepcion’s fight shoes that night were a gift from Pacquiao.
When he was satisfied that Otieno was all right, Concepcion exited and was met by a throng of well-wishers. His future post-fight locker room scenes will most likely be as crowded as he continues to harness that punching power and seal the deal as another Filipino boxing hero.
|
