True to his promise, World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao has given opportunity to at least three Filipino boxers to display their talents in American rings this year and next year.
On September 25, Pacquiao, 29, who will challenge Oscar De La Hoya on December 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada, will be at ringside at the Sycuan Resort and Casino in San Diego, California when the three--North American Boxing Federation (NABF) champion Bernabe Concepcion, Dennis Laurente, and Aaron Melgarejo--face Mexican boxers in a card co-promoted by the casino hotel and MP Promotions.
In June this year in Hollywood, Pacquiao promised to make Laurente, a protege of Paranaque City-based promoter-manager Johnny Elorde, "the next Filipino world champion."
Pacquiao also did not give up on Cebu-based Melgarejo (11-6-1, 3 KOs) despite losing his US debut in June in Las Vegas in a promotion held at The Orleans. Pacquiao's trustee, Michael Koncz, credited for helping book several Filipino fighters in the United States, said Melgarejo's next fight against Alain Hernandez (12-5-2, 7 KOs) is a must win "or he can't fight (in the US) again."
Concepcion (26-1, 15 KOs), the most promising among the three, will battle Giovanni Caro (11-4-4, 9 KOs) in a 10-round super bantamweight bout that begins at 7:30 p.m. televised by Azteca America.
Laurente, a former Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) titlist, (29-3, 15 KOs), goes up against Arturo Urena (20-15, 12 KOs) in another 10-round non-title tiff.
World Boxing Council (WBC) ringside physician Dr. Allan L. Recto said he will also watch the fight at ringside and will assist Concepcion, whom he predicted as "the next Manny Pacquiao."
Recto said if Concepcion wins on September 25, the fighter should be prepared for a possible crack the world title against Israel Vasquez, a personal friend of Pacquiao.
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