(Read this article inTagalog below)
8CN- D Source for 8 Count News, we’re here with Bernabe Concepcion. Bernabe how are you?
Bernabe - I’m okay sir.
8CN- Bernabe is fighting on August 15 against Steven Luevano at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. How is training?
Bernabe - So far everything is good. No problems, it’s going smoothly. I’m doing ok.
8CN- How are you preparing for Luevano? Have you seen his style?
Bernabe - The way he fights, his style, I try to study every day. That’s what I always I try to study so I figure out his style of fighting.
8CN- So what’s the strategy against Luevano?
Bernabe - It depends on the style of who you’re fighting. Luevano runs a lot. He is a hit-and-run fighter. That’s what I try to figure out; how I’m going to attack him. Whether I’m coming in from the left or the right or what hand I’m going to use that will make the most damage, that’s why I just keep trying to study his style.
8CN- You’re training here in Los Angeles but you are from Rizal, Philippines right?
Bernabe - My province is Catanduanes but I started boxing in Rizal and that’s where I turned pro and now I always train here (Wild Card in LA).
8CN- So you live in the LA or Hollywood area now?
Bernabe - No. I only train here but after my fight I’ll go back home right away.
8CN- I see. Is there anybody you miss or did you leave somebody back home?
Bernabe - My family of course, I miss them so much, but we’re here to really train and fight so I hope all the listeners and viewers out there will continue to support and pray for us.
8CN- Tell your fans out there how life in America is for a Filipino boxer. They only see you during the fights and they don’t really see all the pain and hard work behind it. What can you share with them about your experiences?
Bernabe - Of course in everything, it’s hard especially if you’re really trying to study and spire to be good at something but it’s becomes easier if you are really determined and strive for whatever it is you want to do. Like us boxers, right from the beginning our bodies get beat up in training and sparring, but you will see the results in the end and during the fights.
8CN- How big of an influence in your career has Manny (Pacquiao) been? How has he helped your boxing career?
Bernabe - For me and my career, Manny has really helped a whole lot as he has with almost all Filipino boxers fighting here in America. He opened the doors for Filipino boxers to get recognition here and he also made Filipino boxers significant because of his ring exploits. He’s my business manager and he lets me stay in his apartment when I’m here training. Manny has really helped me so much throughout my boxing career.
8CN- Great. Okay, in closing, do you have any messages for your fans out there in the Philippines and here and around the world as well?
Bernabe - Of course to all the Filipinos in the Philippines and around the world, I hope you continue to pray for me and support me and all the other Filipino boxers fighting here in America. I appreciate all your prayers and support. Thank you so much!
8CN- Alright, thanks Bernabe. Good luck.
Bernabe - Thank you.
(Tagalog)
8CN- D Source for 8 Count News, nandito tayo ngayon kasama si Bernabe Concepcion. Bernabe kamusta?!
Bernabe - Okay lang po.
8CN - May laban si Bernabe sa August 15. Kalaban nya si Steven Luevano sa Hard Rock sa Las Vegas. Kamusta naman and training?
Bernabe - So far okay naman po. Wala naman problema, tuloy tuloy lang. Ayos lang naman po.
Papano ka naghahanda kay Luevano? Nakita mo na ba yung style niya lumaban?
Bernabe - Yung laban niya, yung style niya, pinagaaralan ko lagi halos araw araw. Yun yung parati kong pinagaaralan, iniisip ko parati yung style niya kung ano yung dapat kong gawin para makuha ko yung style niya.
8CN - Ano naman ang strategy natin kay Luevano?
Bernabe - Si Luevano, depende kasi sa style ng makakalaban. Si Luevano takbuhin kumbaga hit-and-run sabi nga nila. Yun po, iniisip ko kung papano ko siya papasukin. Saan ko dapat dumaan kung sa kaliwa o sa kanan, kung ano dapat na kamay ang gagamitin ko kaya tuloy tuloy po ang training ko para pag-aralan kung ano style niya.
8CN - Nag tre-training ka dito sa LA pero taga Rizal ka diba sa Pilipinas?
Bernabe - Ang province ko po sa Catanduanes. Nag-start ako ng boxing sa Rizal so dun po ako nag professional hanggang ngayon po dito na ako lagi nag tre-training.
8CN - So dito ka na nakatira ngayon sa Hollywood area, sa LA?
Bernabe - Hinde po. Dito lang ako nag tre-training pero pagkatapos ng laban babalik po ako sa Pilipinas.
8CN - Ahh, hinde mo ba namimiss o mayroon ka bang iniwanan doon, hinde mo ba sila namimiss?
Bernabe - Pamilya ko syempre namimis ko ren po pero nandito kami po talaga para mag-ensayo kaya sa lahat ng tagapakinig at taga panood natin sana tuloy tuloy lang ang suporta nila at panalangin nila.
8CN - Kwento mo sa mga taga-hanga mo kung papano ang buhay boksingero dito sa Amerika. Sympre nakikita lang nila yung mga laban. Hinde nila nakikita yung hirap. Ano-ano ang mga bagay na pwede mo ipamahagi?
Bernabe - Syempre po talaga lahat naman ng bagay mahirap lalo po talaga pag pinagaaralan mo talaga ng husto. Pero nagiging madali kung pursigido ka gawin yung bagay na yun. Kaya tulad naming mga boksingero, syempre mahirap po mag-training, sa simula pa lang bubugbugin na yung katawan naming sa training, sa sparring pero nakikita naman yung tagumpay pagkatapos ng laban.
8CN - Gaano kalaking impluwensya sa iyo si Manny (Pacquiao)? Anu-ano ang mga naitulong niya sa career mo?
Bernabe - Sa akin po, sa career, napakalaking naitulong niya hinde lang pos a akin, halos sa lahat ng Pilipinong boksingero na lumalaban dito sa America. Parang siya yung nagbukas ng boksing dito sa Amerika para sa mga Pilipino. Sumikat po ang Pilipino dahil sa pinaghirapan ni kuya Manny. Business manager ko siya, sa apartment niya ako nakatira yung tulong niya sa akin sobra-sobra po.
8CN - Ayos. Oh bago tayo magtapos, mayroon ka bang gusto sabihin sa taga-satin jan at sa mga Pilipino na ren na mga taga-hanga mo dito sa Amerika.
Bernabe - Syempre po sa lahat ng mga Pilipino na nasa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo saan man, nagpapasalamat ako ng napakarami sa suporta ninyo, inaasahan ko po ang patuloy ninyong panalangin para sa aming mga boksingerong Pilipino na lumalaban dito sa ibang bansa. Maraming maraming salamat po!
8CN - Maraming salamat Bernabe. Good luck ah!
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