From the Streets of Panama to a Boxing Title

The Fight On November 19 at the Roberto Duran boxing arena in Panama City, Panamanian boxer, Luis "El Nica" Concepción, will defend his title as interim champion of the World Boxing Association flyweight division against a thirty-year-old southpaw from Mexico, Roberto Leyva. Roberto Carlos Leyva, 26 and 9, is the more experienced fighter. “El Nica” is 24, fights with an orthodox stance and is 24 and 1. Concepción is training hard with the belief that his youth and endurance will enable him to beat the left handed, more experienced fighter.

The Street Kid Gets a Chance

When very young, Concepción was hanging out with the wrong crowd and on his way to joining a violent gang in Panama. What helped this young man change direction was being selected for a reality show run by TV Max, channel 9 in Panama City. The show was called “El Primer Guerrero” which means The Contender. Concepción and 17 other boxers were picked for a series of boxing matches that started in 2007 and had only one winner.

Concepción came out on top. The prize was to be trained as a professional boxer by trainers from the World Boxing Association (WBA). This young man boxes as a “flyweight” in the 112 pound category.

Two years later when Concepción defeated Mexican Omar Salado by a TKO in the 12 round on September 5 he became Panama’s 29th world boxing champion.

The Man with the Hands of Stone and Panama Boxing

But, mention boxing and Panama and people first think of Roberto Duran, the man with the “manos de piedra,” or “hands of stone.” Duran is generally considered one of the ten best boxers the world has ever seen. In 2002 Ring Magazine ranked him the fifth best fighter in the preceding 80 years.Duran is now retired after fighting until age fifty. During his career Roberto Duran held world titles in the lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and middleweight categories.

As Concepción's title defense demonstrates, the story of Panama boxing does not stop with the retirement of the man with the “manos de piedra.”

Note: The statue on Via Argentia a block off of Via España is of Duran.

Other recent and current world champions from Panama, besides Luis “El Nica” Concepcion, include Guillermo Jones, cruiserweight, Celestino Caballero, super bantamweight, Ricardo Cordoba, super bantamweight, and Anselmo Moreno, bantamweight. As Panama keeps producing class boxers a few names to watch include Rafael ¨El Torito¨ Concepción, Roinet Caballero, Ricardo Nunez, Joel Cerrud, , Walter Trillo, and Irving Berry.

The Fight

If you are interested in seeing Luis Concepción’s flyweight title defense or any of Panama’s up and coming boxing talent come to the newly opened Roberto Duran Arena in Panama City. Tickets typically run from $8 for general admission to $60 for VIP seats. Tickets at Blockbuster or call (507) 393-1720.