Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico – Mikey Garcia (28-0, 24KOs) stopped Bernabe Concepcion (29-6-1, 15KOs) in the seventh round to retain the NABO featherweight title.

A clash of styles in the first three rounds. Concepcion, usually an aggressive fighter, switched things up and started pure boxing match with Garcia. In the fourth, Concepcion was staying defense to avoid the big shots of an incoming Garcia, and tried to reply with counters. Garcia was using a heavy jab and trying to break the strong guard of Concepcion. By the sixth, Garcia started picking up the pace with punches to the body and head.

In the seventh, a two-punch combination sent Concepcion down for count. Garcia was stalking in a calm manner by working the head and body of Concepcion against the ropes to force the stoppage at 2:27.

 

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50485

No. 1-rated contender MIKEY GARCIA will risk his undefeated record, his NABO and NABF featherweight titles and his rating when he faces two-time world championship challenger BERNABE CONCEPCION on the Lopez-Salido II card which will take place Saturday, March 10 and will be televised live from Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, P.R. on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing®, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). Photos by Peter Amador/Top Rank.

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Wednesday’s presser in San Juan for the rematch between Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez revealed two things as it pertains to the main event: Lopez is intent on proving that the first fight was a fluke, while Salido just wants everyone to shut up and fast forward to fight night.

As was the case last April, Showtime will be on board to televise the clash, live from Coliseo Roberto Clemente (Saturday, 10PM ET/PT). The final presser before Saturday’s showdown saw both fighters say as much with body language as they did behind the mic.

Salido (37-11-2, 25KO) appeared disinterested for much of the media station, so much that he didn’t even make note of the promotional banner, listing Lopez’ name first despite the fact that he enters Saturday’s rematch as the defending champ.

The 31-year old Mexican was sporting his usual blue zip-up jacket with the WBO patched placed just above the heart, proudly representing the organization that crowned him champ in last year’s monster knockout upset over Lopez. His wardrobe – also including jeans and sneakers – was in stark contrast to that of the flashy Lopez (31-1, 28KO), who appeared in a suit and tie and with plenty to say.

Above all else, Lopez is trying his hardest to convince anyone who will listen that the JuanMa from the first fight and the one who will be present are two separate fighters entirely.

“I want to clarify that I have never offered any excuses,” Lopez said of last April’s affair, in which the Puerto Rican suffered a 5th round knockdown and was stopped on his feet two rounds later. “So Orlando, I don’t want to hear you say any excuses. I assure you that March 10 that title is mine.”

‘That title’ was Lopez’ – along with an undefeated record and a rumored showdown with Yuriorkis Gamboa. All of that went out the window the moment referee Roberto Ramirez Jr rescued the Puerto Rican southpaw from taking further punishment midway through the seventh round of an even fight.

Since then, Lopez has fought just once – a third round knockout of Mike Oliver in an uneven performance. Meanwhile, Salido has spent every moment of the past near-year knowing what it once again feels like to be a champ.

That hasn’t sat well at all with Lopez, who thirsts for a return to the spotlight.

“I hope you enjoyed your title reign, because come March 10 I’m regaining my title,” Lopez insists. “Orlando, you can return the title that I let you borrow for the past 11 months.”

Whether he woke up late, or just wasn’t in the mood to be there, Salido couldn’t be bothered to summon up a response to Lopez’ claims. Instead, he remained true to his motto of letting his fists do all the talking.

“I don’t have much to say,” stated Salido when it was his turn to the mic. “I now come to (this fight) with more confidence than the last time.”

 

By Jake Donovan

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50377

            SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – El dos veces campeón del mundo Juan Manuel “Juanma” López buscara recuperar el campeonato mundial de peso pluma de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) cuando se enfrente al monarca Orlando “Siri” Salido el sábado 10 de marzo en el histórico Coliseo Roberto Clemente de San Juan, Puerto Rico.

López (31-1, 28 KO’s) de Caguas, Puerto Rico buscara vengar la derrota que sufrió ante el mexicano Salido (37-11-2, 25 KO’s) de Ciudad Obregón, Sonora, México en abril del año pasado quien le arrebato su corona en Bayamón, Puerto Rico en una aguerrida batalla.

La pelea que será televisada en vivo por Showtime durante su gustado programa “Championship Boxing” es una promoción de Top Rank en asociación con PR Best Boxing Promotions, Promociones Zanfer y el Municipio de San Juan.

“Esperamos otra gran noche de boxeo en Puerto Rico. Sabemos que Orlando Salido quiere demostrar su calidad de campeón y que Juanma viene con todo para recuperar  su campeonato mundial. Es un combate muy atractivo y de mucha acción” , dijo Bob Arum de Top Rank.

Salido quien llego como retador el pasado mes de abril sorprendió al mundo del boxeo con su categórica victoria sobre el ídolo de Caguas y ahora tratara de repetirle la dosis al ex campeón mundial.

“Cuando vine el pasado mes de abril a Puerto Rico pocos pensaban que podría ganar la pelea, pero yo sabia que tenia el poder para hacerlo y le volveré ha ganar aquí en Puerro Rico”, dijo Salido.

López quien fue monarca pluma jr de la OMB estaba intentando hacer la tercera defensa titular del campeonato pluma ante Salido cuando perdió la corona ante el mexicano.

“Voy a demostrar que mi derrota ante Salido fue solo una mala noche, pues quiero darle a mi gente de Puerto Rico que no ha dejado de respaldarme una gran victoria para celebrar el próximo 10 de marzo en el Coliseo Roberto Clemente en donde estoy muy contento de pelear”, dijo López.

Salido conquisto el campeonato mundial pluma de la FIB el 15 de mayo del 2010 en Ciudad Obregón, Sonora al derrotar por puntos a su compatriota Cristóbal Cruz y lo perdió en la bascula antes de enfrentar a Yuriorkis Gamboa el 11 de septiembre del 2010 en Las Vegas.

Salido de 30 años, se ha enfrentado a los ex campeones mundiales Alejandro González, César Soto, Robert Guerrero y Cristóbal Cruz, Juan Manuel Márquez y Yuriorkis Gamboa.

El mexicano ha hecho una exitosa defensa de su corona mundial ante Kenichi Yamaguchi el pasado 23 de julio y en su más reciente pelea el pasado 17 de diciembre se levanto dos veces para noquear al filipino Weng Haya en un combate no titular. Ambas peles fueron en Ciudad Obregón.

López conquisto su primer campeonato mundial en Junio del 2008 al fulminar en un asalto a Daniel Ponce de León en Atlantic City e hizo cinco exitosas defensas de ese título de las 122 libras, incluyendo victorias sobre Gerry Peñalosa en Puerto Rico en Abril del 2009 y ante Rogers Mtagwa con quien se enfrascó en un duelo para el recuerdo el 10 Octubre del 2009 en Nueva York en el que demostró todo su talento, coraje y más que nada la habilidad de superar momentos difíciles sobre el ring.

El 23 de enero del 2010, López ascendió a las 126 libras para enfrentar a Steve Luevano, un campeón mundial con cinco defensas titulares reconocido como uno de los mejores pesos plumas del planeta, pero con una de sus mejores actuaciones como profesional López le arrebató el campeonato al californiano al noquearlo en el noveno asalto.

López hizo dos exitosas defensas de ese cinturón.  El 10 de julio del 2010 en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico se levantó de la lona para noquear al filipino Bernabe Concepcion y el 6 de noviembre en Las Vegas venció por KOT al doble campeón mundial Rafael Márquez.

En su más reciente actuación el pasado mes de octubre en Bayamón, Puerto Rico, López noqueo en dos asaltos a Mike Oliver.

En la otra pelea que será televisada el clasificado mundial invicto de peso pluma Miguel Angel “Mikey” García (27-0, 23 KO’s) de Oxnard, California expondrá sus títulos de peso pluma de la NABO y de la NABF ante el fuerte ponchador filipino Bernabe Concepcion (31-4-1, 17 KO’s) quien es manejado por el mejor boxeador libra por libra del mundo, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao.

García esta actualmente clasificado número uno por la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), número dos por el Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (CMB), número tres por la OMB y número ocho por la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB) en peso pluma.

 

FOTOS CORTESÍA PR BEST BOXING PROMOTIONS/JOSÉ PÉREZ

Concepción and García faced off today. Hard-hitting Filipino Bernabé “Abe” Concepción (29-5-1, 15 KO’s), a boxer managed by fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao, will have the golden opportunity to challenge world ranked undefeated featherweight Miguel Angel “Mikey” García (27-0, 23 KO’s) for the prestigious WBO North American Boxing Organization (NABO) and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) featherweight titles this coming Saturday at the legendary Coliseo Roberto Clemente this Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Hailing from Virac, the capital city of the island province of Catanduanes in the Bicol Region in Luzon, Bernabe Concepcion, 24, comes from a very tough narrow split decision victory over California’s Aaron Garcia (10-3-2, 2KOs) last October at the San Manuel Indian Casino in Highland, California, a combat in which Aaron Garcia suffered a cut in his left eyebrow from accidental headclash with the Filipino.

Bernabé Concepción, a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, is mainly remembered for his second round KO lost to Juanma Lopez in Puerto Rico and for being disqualified in his WBO world title fight against then champion american Steven Luevano.

In that fight in which Abe Concepcion intentionally hit Steven Luevano with a violent right hook way after the sound bell that ended round seven. American referee Mr. Jay Nady disqualified Conception on the spot.

Meanwhile, tough opponent Mexican-American Miguel “Mickey” García, 24, the heavy handed figher from Oxnard, California is the promising current #1 featherweight by the WBA, #2 by the WBC and # 3 by the WBO.

It’s probable that that the winner of the Mikey Garcia vs Bernabe Concepcion clash would challenge the winner of the Juanma Lopez vs Orlando Salido fight for the WBO featherweight world title.

Mickey Garcia is a younger brother of former world champion Roberto Garcia.

Nowadays, Roberto García is the hugely successful trainer of some of the world’s top fighters in coming high profile bouts like “The filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, Antonio Margarito, Joan Guzman and Brandon “BamBam” Rios.

Both Bernabe Concepcion and Mickey Garcia have promotional agreements with Top Rank. And fellow featherweight fighter Boricua star Juanma Lopez, fighting in the main event, is also promoted by Hall-of-famer legendary promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.

Here are Mikey and Bernabe’s toughts during todays presscon:

Bernabe Concepcion: “I’m excited for fight night on Saturday against Garcia. I came to Puerto Rico once before (in July 2010 to fight Juanma Lopez). Thanks to the promoter (Top Rank) and all the fans for having me back, but I hope for a different result this time.”

Mikey Garcia: “My fight with Bernabe Concepcion is a tough fight. It’s a dangerous fight and it means everything to me. If I want my world title shot, I need to win. There has been talk about me fighting the winner of Lopez and Salido. I want my chance. I hope to fight the winner of Saturday night’s fight for the belt before the end of the year.”

 

By Carlos Costa

http://philboxing.com/news/story-67372.html

Undefeated featherweight contender Mikey Garcia appeared on the latest edition of The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com’s official audio show. Garcia faces Bernabe Concepcion on March 10th in a bout televised by Showtime for the vacant WBO NABO Featherweight title.

In the main event, WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido faces Juan Manuel Lopez in a rematch of their classic battle that took place last April. Assuming that Garcia defeats Concepcion, Top Rank would like to pit him against the winner of the Salido-Lopez rematch.

Garcia isn’t so sure that he will get a shot at JuanMa should the Puerto Rican avenge his loss to Salido.  He feels there is a good chance that JuanMa will move up in weight immediately after the Salido fight.

“If Lopez wins I am not sure that he will fight me. He said that if he wins the belt back that he may go to 130 or maybe even higher.  If it were to happen I think it would be a great fight for the fans with the Puerto Rico versus a Mexican (rivalry) but I am not sure if he wants that fight,” Garcia told The Boxing Lab.

Garcia said that he feels comfortable at featherweight and isn’t planning on moving up in weight anytime soon.  He also revealed that becoming a unified champion is one of his goals before he leaves the division.

“I want to stay here for a while. I haven’t won a title at featherweight yet. I would like to maybe win multiple titles here before I move up. At the moment I want to stay at 126.”

 

By Ryan Burton

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