MANILA, Philippines—The knockout game between San Miguel Beer and Ginebra will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay instead of the Araneta Coliseum, where PBA matches are usually staged Sundays.

The Big Dome has been reserved tonight for the 12-round fight between fast-rising Filipino boxer Bernabe Concepcion and Kenyan Sande Otieno for the vacant World Boxing Council International featherweight title.

For boxing aficionados, this is a major boxing event considering that it is a title fight between two international titlists. The 5-foot-4 Concepcion, a native of Virac, Catanduanes, is a former NABF super bantamweight champion and WBC World Youth titlist who owns an impressive record of 27-1, 16 by knockout.

The 33-year-old Otieno, on the other hand, is a former WBC international title holder who was dethroned by Filipino Balweg Bangoyan last October in Davao City.

He has a record of 16-l and 7 KOs.

Bangoyan wrested the crown via a unanimous five-round technical decision.

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“He is very promising, very courageous. He could be the next Filipino boxing superstar,” said a veteran scribe, who is considered an expert in boxing, of Concepcion.

He said Concepcion is being handled by no less than boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and coached by Freddie Roach.

“Most of his fights are being staged in the United States,” the scribe said.

He won his last bout against Giovanni Caro in California last September. Before that, as an undercard in the Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto WBA welterweight title fight, he demolished opponent Adam Carrera in the third round.

“He has just grown too big for the 122-lb division. I’m sure Abe will at his best at 126 pounds where he could make use of his full power,” said Concepcion’s manager Aljoe Jaro.

Concepcion is expected to go up against Steve Luevano or Oscar Larios—the Mexican who Pacquiao decisioned at the Big Dome in 2006—within the year.

Also seeing action at the Coliseum tonight are RP mini flyweight champ Denver Cuello against Indonesian junior flyweight champ Yanus Emaury and world light flyweight challenger Sonnyboy Jaro against Nanpayyak Sakkipin of Thailand.

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“Of course we will be aiming for no less than the UAAP title next season,” newly appointed UE Warriors coach Lawrence Chongson wasn’t shy to admit. After 24 years of drought, Lawrence said the academe is hungry for a championship.

Lawrence promises a boost in financial assistance.

“We will be training abroad, for the first time in years,” he said. And why not, with Bong Tan and Philippine Airlines are behind him.

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There will be no sanction for Talk ‘N Text even if it played against the Slingers in Singapore early this week, according to the PBA Commissioner’s office.

“It was only a practice game,” explained PBA media bureau Willie Marcial.

The Tropang Texters played a game and a half against the Slingers.

According to reports, they lost the first one in overtime, while the second match was halted at halftime with the Slingers leading by 40 points.