KENNETH Llover shook off a minor issue on his weight and made his 10-round bantamweight fight against Luis Concepcion of Panama a go on Sunday at the Winford Hotel Resort and Casino.
The 22-year-old Filipino made the limit on his second attempt during Saturday’s official weigh-in as he now focuses on his match against Concepcion in what should serves as the toughest test of his young career.
READ: Two-time world champ tests Kenneth Llover's title aspirations
Undefeated in 14 bouts (9 KOs), Llover initially tipped the scale at 118.4lbs, while Concepcion slipped in at 117.
Moments later, the southpaw home bet made it at 117.8lbs.
“Sa ngayon, relax lang ako, focus sa fight, and let’s get it on,” said Llover.
While the Filipino is looking for an early end to the fight, he’s also prepared to go the distance against his veteran 39-year-old opponent, a two-time World Boxing Association title holder.
“Marunong naman akong mag-adjust sa laban. Kung alam kong hirap ako sa part na yun, kaya ko naman siyang baguhin, kaya ko namang mag-adjust. Kung dun ko makuha, yun ang laban na ibibigay ko,” added Llover, who won his last two fights behind first round stoppages in Japan.
Concepcion (40-11, 29 KOs) is coming off a two-year layoff, but his chief trainer Hector Hernandez stressed they didn’t travel all the way from Panama to Manila just to lose.
“We came here to win,” said Hernandez.
Llover said he has nothing but great respect to the Panamanian fighter, knowing he’ll be fully tested in this fight.
“Dito masusubukan ngayon ang career ko, dito ako mate-test sa laban na ito, kung hanggang saan ba ako, kung hanggang saan ba ang kaya kong abutin. Kaya talagang pinag-handaan namin ito,” said the unbeaten bantamweight prospect.
His trainer Dino Campo shares the same thought.
“Huwag nating maliitin ang kalaban kasi two-time world champion yan. Gutom sila sa panalo, pero ang boxer natin mas gutum na gutom sa panalo,” he said. “Mataas ang pangarap namin na maging world champion talaga.”
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