Kenya’s Sande Otieno has something to prove in his bout against Bernabe Concepcion for the WBC International featherweight title at the Araneta Colsieum this Sunday.
Last October, Otieno suffered his first pro loss when referee Bruce McTavish declared a fast-fading Balweg Bangoyan unfit to continue because of a cut inflicted by an accidental headbutt and the Filipino escaped with a fifth round technical decision to wrest the WBC International superbantamweight crown in Davao City.
McTavish himself admitted the outcome was “inconclusive” and speculated that if the fight went on, Otieno would’ve probably knocked out Bangoyan in the next few rounds.
Incensed by the stoppage, Otieno offered Bangoyan a $13,000 purse for a rematch in Nairobi. Instead, he was lured back to Manila for a chance to bag the vacant WBC International featherweight title.
Concepcion is out to silence Otieno for good. The country’s most promising future world titlist from Virac, Catanduanes, hasn’t lost in his last 20 outings and according to his manager Aljoe Jaro, is just two wins away from challenging WBC featherweight champion Oscar Larios of Mexico.
Concepcion, 20, is making his featherweight debut while Otieno, 33, is eager to bounce back from what he called a raw deal.
Jaro said Concepcion can’t afford to take Otieno, a southpaw, lightly because too much is at stake.
“We’ve watched Otieno on tape and he’s not an easy opponent,” said Jaro. “I think he would’ve knocked out Bangoyan if their fight wasn’t stopped. Gigil sa Pinoy si Otieno. He wants to beat up a Filipino badly. He moves well, has a hard right jab and throws a lot of punches. Now that Abe is ranked No. 5 by the WBC, he’s in line for a shot at Larios. After Otieno, Abe will make one title defense then challenge Larios.”
Otieno was dropped by Bangoyan in the first round but recovered quickly. When the Kenyan won the WBC International superbantamweight diadem a year ago, he also survived an early trip to the canvas to convincingly outpoint hometowner Miarcel Kasimov in Tyumen, Russia.
Jaro revealed that Concepcion was offered to fight WBO 122-pound champion Juan Manuel Lopez in the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar de la Hoya undercard last month but declined.
“We were given less than a month’s notice,” said Jaro. “It was too late for us to prepare. Besides, Abe was already finding it difficult to make the weight. It was time to move up.”
The second youngest of nine children, Concepcion turned pro in 2004 and hasn’t lost since losing a majority verdict to Mark Sales nearly four years ago. Two older brothers Benjie and Dondon, now retired from the ring, tried their luck as prizefighters but never reached the top.
Jaro said Concepcion, who won four fights overseas last year, is excited to follow in Manny Pacquiao’s footsteps.
“Abe is making a name for himself abroad but he’s not too well-known in the Philippines which is why he’s out to make a good showing against Otieno,” said Jaro. “What’s special about Abe is like Manny, he’s got a big heart. In his last fight against (Giovanni) Caro, he was bleeding badly over the right eye and the referee was close to stopping it in the middle of the eighth round. Abe begged to finish the round. With blood all over his face, Abe knocked out Caro while his idol, Manny, watched at ringside. That’s what you call heart.”
Last Saturday, Concepcion looked sharp in sparring eight rounds with former Oriental lightweight champion Dennis Laurente and Philippine featherweight titleholder Vinvin Rufino. He weighed 133 after the workout, still seven over, but was confident of making the limit.