lifestyle

Concepción got a belt with that, and an enthusiastic reception coming back to Panama. But should he be added to the long list of Panamanian world champion boxers?

Probably not. The "regular" WBA super flyweight championship is officially vacant and what Concepción won was a bout with the winner of a September 15 match between two Japanese contenders, Nobuo Nashiro and Kohei Kono.

Assuming that there is a live broadcast and a video connection in the Americas, Concepción may want to watch that bout, which will take place in Japan. But maybe not. It will be a busy day for him.

On the 15th --- the eve of Mexican Independence Day --- El Torito will be in Mexico City defending his interim title against Mexican pugilist Jorge Arce, a hard-hitting veteran with a record of 49-4-1. It's a matter of a rising young star going up against a guy who's past his prime but not so far past it that dreams of a world championship have become unrealistic.

So when are we going to see Concepción fight here? It may be awhile. He's represented by the US-based Damon de Berry, of the Optimum Sports Agency. Yes, little Panama is one of the world's great boxing powers, but the box office receipts and television revenues that can be generated here are relatively small, even if the promoters here come across as reasonably honorable businessmen when viewed against the norms set by the big-time guys who have ruled the sport in the USA. The fact is that if a gifted young prizefighter cares to be paid like a world champion, he has to fight outside of Panama. Once he has an established reputation, however, most of the money will come from TV and he can fight here for audiences that for the most part are watching elsewhere. Figure that while he's at the top Concepción will fight where the money is best, and that he still has to beat a few guys who are more famous than himself before the money will be here.