Concepcion falls by disqualification

FILIPINO boxing prospect Bernabe Concepcion was disqualified in his first title fight last Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas after he sent to the canvass defending World Boxing Organization featherweight king Steven Luevano after the sound of the bell that indicated the end of the round. However, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao believes that the decision of referee Jay Nadi was too harsh.

“The referees and the judges should have given Concepcion a chance and gave him a warning. They shouldn’t have ruled a disqualification right away,” said Pacquiao, who will be facing Puerto Rican world titleholder Miguel Cotto, in a report posted at GMAnews.tv.

Despite the disqualification, Concepcion will has a chance to redeem himself by facing Luevano for the title this December, possibly with Donaire and ALA boy Mark Jason Melligen in probably the third installment of the “Pinoy Power” boxing series.

On the other hand, unlike Pacquiao, who is always greeted by a huge crowd of people upon his return to the Philippines after every big fight, newly-crowned World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire only had a simple welcome yesterday at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Donaire and his wife Rachel Marcial arrived yesterday at 3:50 a.m. Donaire Jr. won by unanimous decision against the overweight Rafael Con-cepcion last Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He won his second division world title.

Mighty Mark stops foe; Concepcion DQed

Bernabe Concepcion


Mark Jason Millegen

MARK Jason Melligen continued his winning streak as he dominated Mexican warrior Ernesto Zepeda in the undercard of Pinoy Power 2 boxing showdown at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

After a few rounds of punishment, the bloodied Zepeda fell to his knees following a flurry of punches from Melligen.

Referee Joe Cortez stepped in and stopped the fight in the 2:40 mark of the fourth round.

Melligen dictated the fight from beginning to end, using combos and counter punches against the 32-year-old Zepeda.

The 23-year-old former boxing standout wobbled Zepeda nearing the end of the third round and finally finished him off in the fourth.

With the victory, Melligen improved to 16 wins with only a single loss and 12 knockouts, while Zepeda fell to 39 victories, 13 defeats and four draws with 34 stoppages.

Melligen is now on a 10-fight winning streak and has won all of his three fights in the US.

Although Melligen’s handler, ALA Promotions, is impressed by his performance, they believe that he still needs to improve for him to become a world champion.

“We’re quite pleased that he did well but he’s still a work in progress. He’s still on the road to glory,” ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.

“He needs to work hard because as he goes along, the competition gets tougher. He showed a lot of promise today (yesterday).

He knows that he is a good fighter and he could be a world champion someday.”

Aldeguer said Melligen will be back in action in a big card on either Nov. 13 or in the undercard of the much-anticipated Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto clash.

On the other hand, Bernabe Concepcion failed to claim the World Boxing Organization featherweight crown in his first world title bid as he was disqualified against defending champion Steven Luevano.

Concepcion hit Luevano with two punches to the head after the bell rang to end the seventh round.