LAS VEGAS – Bernabe Concepcion, the talented youth from Virac, Catanduanes, carved a six-round, unanimous decision over Yogli Herrera of Colombia in the undercard.
Concepcion did not lose a round in all three scorecards, and said after the fight he played a cautious fight because his opponent didn’t want to engage either in their featherweight clash.
“He was cautious, and so I got cautious, too,” said the 21-year-old boxer trying to follow in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao.
“But he was strong. I felt his punches. I guess he felt my punches, too,” he added as he stayed in the lobby of the MGM Grand Garden Arena after his one-sided victory.
Last Jan. 11, Concepcion stopped Sandy Otieno at the Araneta Coliseum, due to a bloody cut over the right eye. He improved to 29-1-1 (with 16 knockouts) while Herrera fell to 22-7-0.
Concepcion said a fight with Steven Luevano is being worked out although his handlers are still giving his next possible opponent ample time to fully recover from a shoulder injury sustained earlier this year.
“It could be him as my next opponent, but we’re agreed to let him recover first,” said Concepcion, sporting a tiny bruise over his left eye, a result of Herrera’s continuous rubbing of the laced portion of his gloves.
“I feel okay. Everything’s okay. I’m happy with the win,” said Concepcion. – Abac Cordero