Hernan Marquez Destroys Luis Concepcion In 1st-Round Of Eagerly Anticipated Rematch, Retains WBA Flyweight Title

By James Slater: Last night in Mexico, fans lucky enough to have either a ringside ticket or access to Mexican T.V outlet Azteca, settled in for what they thought would be another give and take war between flyweights Hernan Marquez and Luis Concepcion. This is what we were treated to back in an April FOTY candidate, with Mexico’s Marquez prevailing in that one via electrifying 11th-round TKO.

Both men hit the mat in that battle, with Panama’s Concepcion finally being stopped late on after putting the man known as “Tyson” through hell. Last night’s return between the southpaw, WBA flyweight king and Concepcion? An easy-looking 1st-round wipe out of a win for the defending champ.

Three times in the very first round 23-year-old Marquez sent an aggressive Concepcion to the mat. The final knockdown, coming as it did at just over a minute-and-a-half of the session, prompted the referee to call a halt to the proceedings. The official time was just one minute, 49 seconds of the round. Marquez in now 32-2(25), 26-year-old Concepcion is now 23-3(18).

Marquez – beaten as a pro only by the superb Nonito Donaire, TKO by 8 up at super-flyweight in July of last year, and on points by Richie Mepranum, at the same weight four months before that – proved last night what a dangerous, hard-hitting fighter he really is. Maybe Marquez softened Concepcion up back in April, but no-one had predicted as quick a dismantling job as the one the Mexican did last night.

Maybe now Marquez will be able to get himself some bigger money fights. Ranked at #1 at flyweight by Ring Magazine, after Champ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand, Marquez surely deserves a chance to try and unify his belt with the WBC and Ring belts held by the brilliant 34-year-old.

The little guys never seem to get the attention they deserve in this sport, but those fans who do pay to see Marquez in the future will almost certainly get value for their cash. Having now won three fights this year (Marquez sandwiched a July, 3rd-round TKO over Edrin Dapudong between his two wins over Concepcion), perhaps “Tyson” will even figure in the Fighter Of The Year Awards for 2011?