A TWO-TIME former world champion serves as acid test of Kenneth Llover’s promising career.
Luis Concepcion of Panama vowed to push the unbeaten Filipino to the limit when they clash in a 10-round, non-title bout at bantamweight on Sunday at the Winford Resort and Casino in Manila.
Concepcion is now 39 years old, but he’ll be coming to the fight bringing with him tons of experience in a career that began in 2006 and produced two world titles in 2011 (World Boxing Association flyweight) and 2016 (WBA super flyweight).
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Llover, who was only three years old when Concepcion began his pro career, acknowledged the bout will be the biggest challenge he’ll ever face so far.
“Isang mabigat na hamon ito para sa career ko ngayon. Hindi biro ang aking kalaban. Nirerespeto natin ito kasi isa siyang two-time world champion,” said Llover when he came face-to-face with Concepion on Friday during the official presser for the fight presented by Gerry Penalosa Promotions.
“Kumbaga tayo nagsisimula pa lang humakbang patungo sa pangarap natin. Kaya ngayon tayo masusubukan at susubukin din natin na lumaban ng sabi nga e, ‘Never surrender.’ Bakbakan na matibay ito. Mano a mano. Let’s go!”
Llover carries a perfect record of 14-0 with 9 KOs, and is coming off back-to-back first-round stoppages against two separate Japanese opponents, the last one Keita Kurihara for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight crown.
Concepcion has a 41-11 record (29 KOs) and took on the likes of former champions Andrew Moloney, Khalid Yafai, and Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez which he fought in a memorable trilogy.
And while he hasn’t fought for the past two years, the Panamanian said he’s been training all his life whether he has a coming bout or not.
“He’s been training all his life, now, last year, this year. And he’s always looking for a good opportunity and this one is a great opportunity that Gerry Penalosa has offered him,” said Concepcion's handler through an interpreter.
Penalosa, the two-time former world champion, admitted Concepcion is going to be a tough test for the 22-year-old Llover.
But it’s an experience he has to go through if he wants to become a world champion in the near future.
“Isang mabigat na laban para kay Kenneth Llover pero kailangan niyang labanan dahil kailangan niyang daanan yung mga ganitong klase ng laban,” said the 53-year-old boxer turned promoter.
Llover is aware of the caliber of Concepcion and knows only one way for him to win this fight.
“Knockout siyempre,” he said.
The Llover vs Concepcion bout is co-promoted by Gerrypens Promotions and Kameda Promotions, and co-presented by Winford Resort and Casino Manila.
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