AFTER quick wins in his last two bouts, there was no short route to victory for Kenneth Llover against scrappy and sturdy veteran Panamanian Luis Concepcion, a former two-time world champion, at the packed Winford Resort and Casino Grand Ballroom in Manila late Sunday night.
The gutsy Concepcion survived two knockdowns but, in the end, finally fell to the up-and-coming Filipino Orient Pacific Boxing Federation bantamweight champion, who blitzed his foe with a barrage of punches with 33 seconds left in the eighth round on the way to an impressive TKO triumph.
With celebrated American strength and conditioning trainer Alex Ariza in his corner, the 22-year-old pride of General Trias, Cavite knocked down “El Nica” close to the end of the second round with a left uppercut and in the fifth with a body shot that visibly hurt his rival.
“Work on the body shot!” barked Ariza early in the eighth round, and, like a dutiful disciple, Llover responded with a furious assault, delivering another staggering hit to Concepcion’s torso, prompting the referee to halt the fight to prevent the visiting fighter from suffering further punishment.
Llover, 22, kept his spotless record intact in chalking up his 15th straight victory and claiming his 10th knockout victim, while Concepcion, 39, suffered his 12th setback against 40 wins (29 KOs) in giving the hometown bet a tough challenge in his move closer to a world title shot.
Llover paid tribute to his durable opponent, saying: “Nung hindi nag-wiggle ‘yung tuhod niya (Concepcion) sa first knockdown, nalaman ko na matibay ang kalaban. Nakita ko na talagang palaban siya.
“Second knockdown ganun pa rin po, hindi sumusuko. Binigay niya ang best sa akin.”
The Filipino “Lover Boy” said that he and his corner finally knew that the body of the Panamanian, who sported a granite jaw, was vulnerable after tagging Concepcion with a smashing left upper cut in the fifth round.
“Sabin nung coaches ko nang ininda ang body shot sa fifth round at dumepensa si Concepcion, isa pang ganun at madali nang matatapos ang laban.”
Llover disclosed that he heeded the advice of his manager, former two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa, not to take Concepcion lightly and to expect a long night after winning his last two matches with first-round knockouts.
