In front of a packed house of ravenous boxing fans, Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez defended his WBO featherweight belt against Bernabe Concepcion giving fans at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot and those on Showtime a thrilling affair.
Though the match only lasted two rounds, it was an exciting six minutes. In the opening minute with Lopez already establishing himself as the more dominating fighter he landed a left hook that sent Concepcion falling back into the ropes. It was not ruled a knockdown but Concepcion kept his composure, slipping and blocking punches from the Puerto Rican Champion. In the final frame of the round Lopez backed Concepcion to the corner, landing shots to the body. He attempted to land a left hook, a shot that had been rocking Concepcion from the beginning of the bout. He instead ate a huge Concepcion counter overhand left, as the pro Puerto Rican crowd immediately went silent as Lopez hit the mat. The round would end with both fighters working before retreating to their corners.
The first round proved to be the first time in Concepcion’s career that he would go down due a punch but it would not be the last as in the opening seconds of the second, Lopez landed a flush straight right that sent the contender crashing down once more. Concepcion would last a little longer but was hurt by a Lopez hook once more than sent him staggering away from Juan Ma. Lopez would rush in and sneak one more hook that would ultimately win him the bout. Concepcion would fight to get up, but his legs were gone from out of him as he staggered back and forth before the referee finally stopped it at 2:32 of the second round.
In the semi main event Nonito Donaire outmatched and outgunned opponent Hernan Marquez to successfully defend his WBA super flyweight belt with a commanding KO win in the eight round. A Donaire left uppercut spelled doom for his challenger as it sent him crashing down at 2:59 seconds.
