Ito na ang pagkakataong pinakahihintay ng 21-anyos na si Filipino boxing sensation Bernabe Concepcion.
Nakatakdang hamunin ni Concepcion si American Steven Luevano para sa suot nitong World Boxing Organi-zation (WBO) featherweight crown sa undercard ng world light welterweight championship nina Manny Pacquiao at Ricky Hatton sa Mayo 2 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“Yes, we have sealed the deal for Concepcion to fight Luevano in May 2 as the main appetizer of the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton” showdown,” wika ng manager ni Concepcion na si Aljoe Jaro sa panayam ng 8countnews.com.
Bunga ng kahirapang makuha ang timbang sa super bantamweight division, nagdesisyon si Concepcion, ang North America Boxing Federation (NABF) champion, na umakyat sa featherweight class para hamunin si Luevano.
Tangan ng tubong Virac, Catanduanes ang 28-1-1 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 16 KOS, samantalang taglay naman ng 27-anyos na si Luevano ang 36-1-1 (15 KOs) card.
Nanggaling si Concepcion sa isang fifth-round technical decision laban kay Kenyan Sande Otieno para angkinin ang bakanteng World Boxing Council (WBC) International featherweight title.
“My original plan was to put up a March 22 card in Araneta where Abe (Concepcion) would defend his WBC International title but I was advised by Bob (Arum) to forget that plan because he might suffer an injury, and that could hurt Abe’s chances on May 2,” ani Jaro.
Si Concepcion ay nasa ilalim ng MP Promotions ni Pacquiao katambal ang Top Rank Promotions ni Arum. (Russell Cadayona)