MANILA – Filipino bantamweight prospect Kenneth Llover scored an eighth-round technical knockout victory over former two-time world champion Luis Concepcion of Panama on Sunday night at the Winford Resort and Casino in Manila.
The 22-year-old southpaw from General Trias, Cavite dropped Concepcion twice with left hands in the second and third rounds before finishing the fight in the eighth round.
Referee Carlo Baluyot halted the contest at the 2:27 mark after Llover unloaded a series of unanswered combinations on the 39-year-old Panamanian.
“Talagang binilin sa akin ni Sir Gerry Peñalosa na huwag akong magmamadali kasi hindi lagi makukuha sa first round,” said Llover after the win.
“Talagang andyan yun, talagang gagamit kami ng strategy, gagamit kami ng oras na hindi tayo puwedeng magmadali sa lahat ng bagay,” he added.
Despite his dominance, Llover credited Concepcion’s toughness after withstanding two early knockdowns.
“Nakita ko talaga yung tibay niya. Yung tibay niya na pinakita sa akin sa loob ng ring talagang binigay niya yung best niya sa akin,” he said. “Talagang nasabi ko tatagal kami ng round nito… hindi basta-basta yung kalaban ko. Ito tumayo dalawang beses.”
The win improved Llover’s record to 15-0 with 10 knockouts, boosting his bid for a possible title eliminator in Japan later this year.
Concepcion, a former WBA flyweight and super flyweight champion, fell to 40-12-0 with 29 KO victories./PN
