The Pinoy Power 2 boxing showcase at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas did not live up to its billing. At least, 'power'-wise.
Although the massive fireworks expected by the crowd and predicted by experts did not occur, still, the fight card assembled by Top Rank was competitive and entertaining because of some unpredictable events that occurred in the fight.
The Filipinos in the card, namely Nonito Donaire Jr, Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen, had contrasting fortunes when the night was over.
The Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire, Jr won a 12- round unanimous decision despite riding his bicycle up to the finish line in his super flyweight debut against a really tough opponent in Rafael Concepcion of Panama. The Panamanian who earlier failed to make the weight and was fined with 20% of his prize money gave Donaire all that he could handle in the fight.
In the early rounds, many ringside observers felt that Donaire would be too much for Concepcion and it will be a short night as the Filipino connected with several power blows that rocked his opponent. But Concepcion withered the storm and came back with a fury of his own against the Filipino. He rocked Donaire on numerous occasions with his heavy right hand especially in the middle rounds whenever he would engage him.
Sensing that Concepcion’s added weight could handle his power punches and he was getting hit in close-quarter exchanges, the Filipino Flash switched to his dancing shoes as he sniped and countered the game Concepcion from afar for the rest of the fight to earn the decision.
It was not an impressive one for Donaire but he did what he had to do to make his debut in a higher weight class a success. A win is a win but he needs a lot of work in order to emulate Manny Pacquiao’s success in hopping from one division to another.
The much-hyped Bernabe Concepcion who’s being groomed by some quarters as the next Manny Pacquiao was quite a disappointment. Sure, he has the moves and power like the Pacman as shown in his previous fights but tonight he was nothing but a very ordinary and boring fighter.
When he finally showed his vaunted power to his opponent, it was too late. It was too late because when he sneaked a vicious right hand into Luevano’s chin that flattened him to the ground, the bell ending the 7th round had sounded. Hence, the well- deserved disqualification.
WBO Featherweight champion Steven Luevano, a pitty-patty puncher with sound fundamentals gave him a neat boxing lesson and showed us that one doesn’t need to have a lot of power in one’s hands to be a champion.
Despite Freddie Roach’s presence in his corner, he is still a work in progress and needs a lot to learn on how to adjust his game plan in the ring.
Of the three Filipino fighters in the card, it was Mark Jason Melligen’s power that impressed us the most when he delivered a masterful beating en route to a fourth round demolition of Mexican veteran Ernesto Zepeda.
Slowly but surely, Melligen’s stock is rising as he has now won his 10th straight fight and boosted his record to 16-1, 12 of which inside the distance.
Let's re-live Bernabe Concepcion's 'impressive' hard right at the bell-
and Mark Jason Melligen's frantic finish--
video credits: S2p0r0a0y9
