Featherweight contender Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines and chief trainer Bueboy are off to Puerto Rico today. Concepcion is taking on world champion Juan Manuel Lopez there on Saturday, July 10.
Concepcion, 22, boxes in the Manny Pacquiao stable and has been training for weeks at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Ca. Both Concepcion and Lopez have promised victory in the world title fight which will be at the Coliseo of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey.
“Bernabe has all of the ingredients to make a great champion,” Pacquiao said. “He works hard and is focused only on boxing. We have very high hopes for him.”
Lopez, 26, is the WBO 126-pound champion. He is 7-0 with six knockouts in world title fights.
Michael Koncz, chief advisor to Pacquiao, is taking a flight from the Philippines and will be with Concepcion in Puerto Rico.
Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion and Nonito Donaire vs. Hernan Tyson Marquez is promoted by Top Rank in association with PR Best Boxing. The two title fights will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME (9 pm eastern/9 pm pacific – delayed on West Coast)
YURI FOREMAN ON ROAD TO RECOVERY
Yuri Foreman, who had a knee injury during the recent fight with Miguel Cotto, is on the road to recovery. Yuri, from his iPad, wrote…”walking a bit with a knee brace…rehab going well….but I would like to speed up the process.”
Top Rank Notebook — Steven Badgley, the U.S. Army helicopter pilot who fought several weeks ago at Madison Square Garden, has been transferred from Fort Drum, N.Y. to an undisclosed location. “I am fine – don’t let anyone worry,” said Badgley, a Chief Warrant Officer……
Tony Martin, chief trainer for Mark Melligen, says Manny Pacquiao – even as a very young fighter in the Philippines – always had a ‘warrior style of fighting’ whenever he got into the ring.’….
Melligen, from Rizal, Philippines and Martin are off to Reno, Nevada today for a Top Rank/Let’s Get It On Promotions press conference. Melligen, who trained for weeks in Las Vegas, is taking on Anges Adjaho, in the opening televised bout on the Top Rank Live! (FSN) fight card on Saturday, July 3. The live telecast is 10 pm eastern/7 pm pacific.
Thanks to all
TOP RANK SCHEDULE
Saturday, July 3, Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, Nevada – FSN
10 Rds., Flyweights
ULISES ‘ARCHIE’ SOLIS, 30-2-2, 21 KOs, Guadalajara, Mexico
vs. ERIC ORTIZ, 31-10-3, 20 KOs, Mexico City
10 Rds. Welterweights
MARK MELLIGEN, 18-2, 13 KOs, Cebu City, Philippines
vs. ANGES ADJAHO, 17-2, 9 KOs, Geneva, N.Y.
8 Rds., Middleweights
JOEY GILBERT, 20-2, 16 KOs, Reno, Nevada
vs. BILLY BAILEY, 10-8-1, 4 KOs, Bakersfield, Ca.
Saturday, July 10, Coliseo of Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico – SHOWTIME
12 Rds., WBO Featherweight Championship
Champion JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ, 28-0, 25 KOs, Caguas, Puerto Rico
vs. BERNABE CONCEPCION, 28-3-1, 15 KOs, Rizal, Philippines
12 Rds., WBA Interim Super Flyweight Championship
Champion NONITO ‘FILIPINO FLASH’ DONAIRE, 23-1,15 KOs, San Leandro, Calif.
vs. HERNAN ‘TYSON’ MARQUEZ, 27-1, 20 KOs, Empalme, Mexico
12 Rds., NABO Super Bantamweight Champioship
JONATHAN OQUENDO, 18-2, 11 KOs, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
vs. EDEN SONSONA, 19-5, 8 KOs, Paranaque, Philippines
Saturday, July 17, Chiapas, Mexico – FSN
12 Rds., WBO Bantamweight Championship
Champion FERNANDO MONTIEL, 41-2-2, 31 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico
vs. Interim Champion ERIC MOREL, 42-2, 21 KOs, San Juan, Puerto Rico
6 Rds., Junior Featherweights
ROBERTO MARROQUIN, 14-0, 11 KOs, Dallas
vs. To Be Announced
Saturday, July 31, Tepic, Mexico – Fox Sports Espanol
Main Event to be Announced
Photo By Chris Farina / Top Rank