Top Rank News & Notes

Featherweight contender Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines and chief trainer Bueboy are off to Puerto Rico today. Concepcion is taking on world champion Juan Manuel Lopez there on Saturday, July 10.

Concepcion, 22, boxes in the stable and has been training for weeks at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Ca. Both Concepcion and Lopez have promised victory in the world title fight which will be at the Coliseo of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey.

“Bernabe has all of the ingredients to make a great champion,” Pacquiao said. “He works hard and is focused only on boxing. We have very high hopes for him.”

Lopez, 26, is the WBO 126-pound champion. He is 7-0 with six knockouts in world title fights.

Michael Koncz, chief advisor to Pacquiao, is taking a flight from the Philippines and will be with Concepcion in Puerto Rico.

Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion and vs. Hernan Tyson Marquez is promoted by in association with PR Best Boxing. The two title fights will be broadcast live on SHOWTIME (9 pm eastern/9 pm pacific – delayed on West Coast)

YURI FOREMAN ON ROAD TO RECOVERY

Yuri Foreman, who had a knee injury during the recent fight with Miguel Cotto, is on the road to recovery. Yuri, from his iPad, wrote…”walking a bit with a knee brace…rehab going well….but I would like to speed up the process.” Top Rank Notebook — Steven Badgley, the U.S. Army helicopter pilot who fought several weeks ago at Madison Square Garden, has been transferred from Fort Drum, N.Y. to an undisclosed location. “I am fine – don’t let anyone worry,” said Badgley, a Chief Warrant Officer……

Tony Martin, chief trainer for Mark Melligen, says Manny Pacquiao – even as a very young fighter in the Philippines – always had a ‘warrior style of fighting’ whenever he got into the ring.’….

Melligen, from Rizal, Philippines and Martin are off to Reno, today for a Top Rank/Let’s Get It On Promotions press conference. Melligen, who trained for weeks in , is taking on Anges Adjaho, in the opening televised bout on the Top Rank Live! (FSN) fight card on Saturday, July 3. The live telecast is 10 pm eastern/7 pm pacific.

Thanks to all

TOP RANK SCHEDULE

Saturday, July 3, Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, Nevada – FSN 10 Rds., ULISES ‘ARCHIE’ SOLIS, 30-2-2, 21 KOs, Guadalajara, vs. ERIC ORTIZ, 31-10-3, 20 KOs,

10 Rds. Welterweights MARK MELLIGEN, 18-2, 13 KOs, Cebu City, Philippines vs. ANGES ADJAHO, 17-2, 9 KOs, Geneva, N.Y.

8 Rds., Middleweights JOEY GILBERT, 20-2, 16 KOs, Reno, Nevada vs. BILLY BAILEY, 10-8-1, 4 KOs, Bakersfield, Ca.

Saturday, July 10, Coliseo of Puerto Rico, Hato Rey, Puerto Rico – SHOWTIME 12 Rds., WBO Championship Champion JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ, 28-0, 25 KOs, Caguas, Puerto Rico vs. BERNABE CONCEPCION, 28-3-1, 15 KOs, Rizal, Philippines

12 Rds., WBA Interim Super Championship Champion NONITO ‘FILIPINO FLASH’ DONAIRE, 23-1,15 KOs, San Leandro, Calif. vs. HERNAN ‘TYSON’ MARQUEZ, 27-1, 20 KOs, Empalme, Mexico

12 Rds., NABO Super Champioship JONATHAN OQUENDO, 18-2, 11 KOs, Vega Alta, Puerto Rico vs. EDEN SONSONA, 19-5, 8 KOs, Paranaque, Philippines

Saturday, July 17, Chiapas, Mexico – FSN 12 Rds., WBO Bantamweight Championship Champion FERNANDO MONTIEL, 41-2-2, 31 KOs, , Mexico vs. Interim Champion , 42-2, 21 KOs, San Juan, Puerto Rico

6 Rds., Junior ROBERTO MARROQUIN, 14-0, 11 KOs, vs. To Be Announced

Saturday, July 31, , Mexico – Fox Sports Espanol Main Event to be Announced

Photo By Chris Farina / Top Rank