Jaro's feat fires up Concepcion

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino Bernabe Concepcion is looking to pull off the upset rug against unbeaten prospect Mikey Garcia in San Juan, Puerto Rico this Saturday (Sunday in Manila), hoping to duplicate Sonny Boy Jaro’s title-clinching upset win last week.

Concepcion, a former title challenger, said he will draw inspiration from his friend Jaro, a journeyman who shockingly knocked out Thai legend Pongsaklek Wonjongkam to clinch the WBC flyweight title in Chonburri, Thailand last Friday.

“I see Jaro’s achievement as another motivation for me,” Concepcion (29-5, with 15 KOs) told the Chris Robinson of examiner.com. “Despite all of the years of trying to have that belt, it finally paid off. He deserves that belt and I am happy for Sonny. His dreams came true.”

A heavy underdog coming into the title fight, Jaro (34-10-5, with 10 KOs) stopped Wonjongkam in the sixth round, knocking down the former champion four times.

For his part, Concepcion, who tried but failed to become a world champion in 2010 when he lost via knockout to Juan Manuel Lopez, said the fight with the highly touted Garcia (27-0, with 23 KOs) is a make-or-break outing for him.

“This is a do or die fight for me. Especially that he (Garcia) is high in the ratings; it’s an additional motivating factor,” added the Virac, Catanduanes-born boxer.