– Filipino Bernabe Concepcion, who faces a tough test in unbeaten WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico on July 10, remains optimistic on his chances despite the heavy odds stacked against him.
Concepcion (28-3-1, 15 KOs), now in Puerto Rico for his final pre-fight preparations, declared that he is prepared to go all out against Lopez, one of the sport’s rising stars.
"I know that I have to be at my best to defeat Lopez and I will be. If people think he looked good at 126 pounds, I will too. There are no secrets here between us, he is coming to fight and so am I. This one will be a war," Concepcion told fightnews.com during a recent media workout at the Wilfredo Gomez Gym in Guaynabo.
"I am almost there. I will be set to go on Saturday. I have to work very hard to be ready for this fight. (I am) just putting the final touches on my training," added Concepcion, who is being trained by Manny Pacquiao’s close friend Buboy Fernandez.
In Lopez (28-0, 25 KOs), Concepcion faces a savvy, all-around fighter on track to be the next great Puerto Rican fighter after Wilfred Benitez, Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican southpaw is known to be the first boxer to stop Filipino Gerry Peñalosa, who was forced to quit on his stool in their fight in April 2009.
Despite Lopez's reputation and the home advantage he will enjoy for the bout, Concepcion remains unfazed.
"It’s going to be a tough fight for both us. I don’t care that he is home. I come to win and to take belt home that’s why we worked so hard for this fight," said Concepcion, now on his second title crack after losing via disqualification to Canadian Steven Luevano in August 2009 for the WBO featherweight title.
Lopez knocked out Luevano to wrest the same crown last January.
The Lopez-Concepcion bout, dubbed “Challenge,” will be held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. Lopez stakes his WBO featherweight in this fight, which is promoted by Top Rank and PR Best Boxing Promotions.
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