Dalakian, Concepción Face off Ahead of their WBA-112 World Title Fight Saturday in Ukraine

By Carlos Costa

Unbeaten Ukranian WBA Flyweight World Champion Artem Dalakian (20-0, 14 KO’s) and hard-hitting former ruler Luis “El Nica” Concepción of Panama met for the very first-time during a presser held at noon today, Tuesday November 16, at the Premier Hotel Rus, located near the majestic Dnieper River in Kiev, Ukraine.

Dalakian and Concepción, accompanied by their head coaches, answered questions from the media, and then faced off for the cameras, both men looking fit, promising fireworks and victory.

The two sluggers are set to battle for Dalakian’s black ‘n golden WBA 112-pound diadem this coming Saturday, November 20, at the plush AKKO International Convention Center in a production of Union Boxing Promotion, the fighting outfit that won the bidding to organize this exciting battle for all boxing fans in Ukraine.

Dalakian – the tough Ukrainian of Armenian descent – claimed his world title by soundly defeating veteran Filipino Brian Viloria back in February of 2018 at the Forum in Inglewood, California.

After that win, the undefeated Dalakian, 34, has scored 4 successful title defenses, including a devastating chapter 8 TKO victory over Thai warrior Sirichai Thaiyen (59-4, 40 KO’s), not bad at all.

“This is the 5th defense for Dalakian. If he wins, he wants to get in unification fights,” said veteran man of boxing Yuriy Ruban, Dalakian’s promoter and president of Ukraine’s Union Boxing Promotions.

“Yes, the goal for Dalakian is to become the undisputed flyweight champion of the world. But for that, Dalakian first needs to go through the experienced and uncompromising Panamanian Luis Concepción,” Yuriy said.

Meanwhile, a serious-looking, completely 100% focused Concepcion – who has already been a world champion – equally promised a win, aiming to claim a world championship for a third time.

Notably, the Panamanian did not look at all drawn nor affected due to any jet-lag from his rather long journey, completed just hours before, a trip that took him from the other side of the Planet in Panama, the Central American land of “Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran, to the Ukrainian capital in Eastern Europe, land of Lomachenko and Usyk.

“El Nica” being unaffected by those endless hours in the air is a good thing taht might be because this is not the first time that he gets into a world title battles in foreign lands. “El Nica” has done that before and his experience seem to be holding on.

The friendly Nica Concepcion made his pro debut back in March of 2006, and from then on, he has waged 48 wars, winning 39 fights, 28 of them ahead of schedule.

In his rumble for the “WBA interim” belt in February of last year, “El Nica” stopped Colombian tough combatant Rober Barrera (23-3, 13 KO’s) via TKO in chapter 11, claiming the WBA interim Flyweight crown.

But since then, all “Interim Titles” have been eliminated by the WBA, the pioneering sanctioning body headquartered in Panama, celebrating 100th year of boxing history.

So once Nica Concepcion’s interim belt was no longer part of the WBA titles, the tough fighter became the # 1 in the WBA Flyweight world rankings as well as the mandatory contender for Dalakian’s reign, and this is a reason why we are having their interesting clash on Saturday.

Then, the question boxing fans is who will pull off the win? Will it be the unbeaten, hometown defending, hard-punching world champion? Or will it be the visiting veteran glory-hungry coming-forward warrior who serious power in both fists?

About that, Nica’s opponent, the WBA-112 world champion Artem Dalakian thinks this: “The Panamanian Concepción is physically a very strong boxer, constantly advancing forward like a tank,” he assesses

“Therefore, Concepción needs to be kept at a distance. So, I need to be physically fit so as to showcase my superior boxing skills,” Dalakian reasoned.

PRECATIONS BEING TAKEN DUE TO COVID-19
“This boxing show in Kiev on Saturday will comply with all the required safety measures in the context of the current pandemic situation here in Kiev,” said Dmitry Eliseev, the former boxer who is the current Vice President of Union Boxing Promotions.

“We have received a large number of requests from boxing fans in Kiev who wanted to watch Dalakian’s fight live. So, tickets for the show are currently being sold.

“However, only 500 tickets can be on sale, and only vaccinated fans or fans who have tested negative for COVID-19 (test conducted no more than 72 hours before the boxing show), will be allowed to enter the AKKO convention Center to attend the fight.

Dalakian vs Concepción is set to thrill fans November 20 in Ukraine, the land of boxing superstars Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk, May the Best Man Win!

Photos courtesy of Antonio Cristobal

The author Carlos Costa is a veteran fight reporter with lifetime passion for the sport of boxing. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.