Azukal upbeat on main event stint
Unbeaten WBO Asia Pacific Superbantamweight champion Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania expressed excitement for his upcoming clash against former WBA interim superflyweight champion Rafael Concepcion (18-6-1, 8KOs) of Panama in the main event of Pinoy Pride XXII on Oct. 26 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Servania (22-0, 8KOs) who started his sparring sessions against fellow ALA Boxing Gym stablemates early this week, said he is honored being in the main fight of a major card promoted by ALA Promotions.
Servania is also eyeing to avenge the loss of stablemate AJ ‘Bazooka’ Banal to Concepcion last 2008 here in Cebu.
“I’m so excited and happy and honored for the chance ALA Promotions have given me to fight in the main event, I think I can handle the pressure of this huge task,” said Servania told Cebu Daily News yesterday before his sparring session against ALA fighters Ralph Lulu and Roli Gasca who will also fight in the undercard.
Servania’s WBO Asia Pacific Super bantamweight title will not be at stake in the fight according to ALA Boxing Gym founder Antonio Lopez Aldeguer (ALA) citing newly implemented rules during the recent 26th WBO Annual Convention in Budapest, Hungary which mandated that boxers coming from different regions or continents will fight under the intercontinental division.
Servania made his international debut in Macau last July where he won the WBO AsPac belt against Japanese Konosuke Tomiyama via nine-round split technical decision.
Servania said he has viewed Concepcion’s fight videos including the bout against Banal and claimed his main advantage will be his height and lightning speed. “He explodes usually in the last three rounds and he will hit you with hay makers and hooks in all directions and that’s what I’m trying to study. I will do my best to neutralize him in each round and find a way to finish the fight early or decisively,” added Servania.
In the undercard, Servania’s stable mates, the undefeated super flyweight Arthur Villanueva (23-0, 13 KOs) will fight former world title challenger Oscar Blanquet (32-6-1, 23 KOs) in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBO International super flyweight strap while the opponents of Roli Gasca (20-4-1,5KOs) and “Idol” series prospect Mark Vincent Bernaldez (11-0, 7KOs) will be announced later.
