Concepcion ready for foe’s hit-and-run tactics

Rising Filipino ring star Bernabe Concepcion declared he’s ready for whatever Steven Luevano brings to the ring when they tangle for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight title on August 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Luevano runs a lot. He is a hit-and-run fighter. And that’s what I’m trying to figure out, how I’m going to attack him," the soft-spoken challenger said in an interview by 8CountNews.com. The 21-year-old Filipino is now in the final weeks of his training at the famed Wild Card gym in Los Angeles in preparation for his first-ever shot at a world title. Things have been going so far, so good for the Concepcion camp. “Everything is good. No Problem. It’s going smoothly and I’m doing OK," he said. The fight was originally scheduled as the main undercard in the Manny Pacquiao - Ricky Hatton showdown last May, but an injury suffered by Luevano forced the bout to be postponed three months later.

Now it serves as the co-featured match of the Nonito Donaire, Jr.- Rafael Concepcion slugfest in a boxing card billed as “Pinoy Power 2." Bernabe, 29-1 with 16 KOs, is proud to be headlining a boxing promotion that features a fellow Filipino in Donaire. That he reached this far in his career Bernabe owes to Pacquiao, no less than his business manager and a big influence in his decision to take up the sport. “Manny has really helped a whole lot on Filipino boxers fighting in America. He opened the doors for Filipino boxers to be recognized," he said. That’s the reason why does not want to let Pacquiao down when he vies for Luevano’s 126-pound belt. A California native, the 28-year-old Luevano is making the fifth defense of the WBO title he first won with an 11th round knockout of Nicky Cook in 2007. The American champion has a ring record of 36-1, although he’s not really known for having a deadly knockout punch, having only 15 KOs to his credit. - GMANews.TV