PREFIGHT
The challenger, Bernabe Concepcion, comes out first to the sounds of Queen's "We Will Rock You." He looks confident as he smiles to the crowd in attendance. The champion, Steve Luevano, comes out next. He also looks confident and ready to get the fight started.
ROUND 1
Luevano tries to establish his jab early. Concepcion taking his time at he searches for an opening. Right hand down the middle lands for Concepcion. HARD left hook from Concepcion staggers Luevano already. Very little coming back from Luevano right now. Concepcion lands a right to the body and a lead left hand upstairs. Another HARD right hand lands for Concepcion. Luevano looks confused. Quick left lands for Luevano. Round to Concepcion.
Concepcion 10 Luevano 9
ROUND 2
Right to the body lands for Concepcion. Luevano pawing with his jab. Quick 1-2 lands for Concepcion. Luevano falling short with his jab. Quick left down the middle lands for Luevano. Another right to the body lands for Concepcion. Round up for grabs with a minute left. Right down the middle lands for Concepcion. Luevano answers with a left of his own. Right hook lands upstairs for Luevano. Both men were cautious in that round. I give it to Concpecion for landing a few harder shots.
Concepcion 20 Luevano 18
ROUND 3
Luevano continues to flick his jab out. Right hand from Concepcion is partially blocked. Right to the body lands for Concepcion. Luevano content to keep his distance behind a series of jabs. Some boos coming from the crowd, who are growing tired of seeing Luevano's jab. Nice counter right hook lands for Luevano. Not much coming from Concepcion now. Right to the body lands for Concepcion. Luevano lands a 1-2. Round to Luevano.
Concepcion 29 Luevano 28
ROUND 4
More flicking jabs from Luevano. Concepcion looks a little confused. Left hand lands for Luevano. Concepcion lands a reaching right to the body. Right hook upstairs lands for Luevano. Left hook to the body lands for Concepcion. Luevano continues to keep his distance behind the jab. Straight left lands for Luevano. Another nice left hand lands for Luevano. Concepcion reaches in for another lunging shot to the body. Round to Luevano.
Concepcion 38 Luevano 38
ROUND 5
Concepcion's trainer, Freddie Roach, sounded a little frustrated in the corner as he instructed his pupil to turn up the pressure. Luevano fires his jab and lands a 1-2. Concepcion still looks reluctant to close the distance. Right to the body lands for Concepcion. More jabs from Luevano. 1-2 lands for Luevano. Concepcion not throwing much at all right now. More jabs from Luevano. Concepcion lands a right upstairs. Round to Luevano.
Concepcion 47 Luevano 48
ROUND 6
Luevano continues to fire his jab and keep his distance. Nice left hand lands for Luevano. Concepcion continues to look confused by the flicking jab of Luevano. More boos from the crowd. Jab, jab, jab from Luevano. Quick 1-2 lands for Luevano. Nothing coming back from Concepcion. Right hook lands for Luevano. Concepcion lands a right to the body. Another easy round for Luevano.
Concepcion 56 Luevano 58
ROUND 7
Another series of jabs from Luevano keeps Concepcion at bay. Nice right hand lands for Concepcion. Right and a left lands for Luevano. Left hand lands again for Luevano. Concepcion just catching jabs with his gloves. Left hand down the middle lands for Luevano. Hard right hand to the body lands for Luevano. Wooooooooo....BIG left hand down the middle from Luevano wobbles Concepcion. Another BIG right hand lands for Luevano. OOOOOOOOOOOO....Concepcion lands a HUGE right hand after the bell and Luevano is down. That's it. Jay Nady calls a halt to the bout and disqualifies Concepcion.
THE WINNER BY DISQUALIFICATION...AND STILL WBO FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION...STEVEN LUEVANO
POSTFIGHT
Wow! That punch was DEFINITELY late and after the bell. Freddie Roach and Jay Nady got into a heated argument after the bout. Nady shouts at Roach and tells him not to argue with him, stating that Concepcion clearly knew the round was over. "The disqualification was justified, yes...but it was not intentional...it was a good call," Roach stated during the post-fight interview. "He got me with a couple good punches...I didn't feel anything until after the bell rang...he must have got mad because he couldn't hit me," stated Luevano. "These things happen...it's unfortunate, but I'm going to try to put together a rematch for December and the guys will make more money," Arum commented. Official judges scorecards at the time of the stoppage: 67-64 (Luevano), 68-65 (Luevano), 66-67 (Concepcion)
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