By Jake Donovan

"Tornado has the style which is going to allow me to knock him out. I'm ready to win, I'm going in there with everything from the first round." 

That quote came from former flyweight Luis 'El Nica' Concepcion shortly after the pre-fight weigh-in ahead of Saturday's showdown with David 'Tornado' Sanchez. His words proved prophetic, resurrecting his career in major upset fashion, boldly marching into Sanchez' hometown and forcing him to quit on his stool after 10 rounds Saturday evening in Hermosillo, Mexico. 

Confirming in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t bluffing, Concepcion went on the attack right from the opening bell. Sanchez is known as ‘Tornado’ but wasn’t prepared for the storm that was coming his way. A right hand tore through the defending interim champion’s leaky guard, putting him flat on his back lesson than a minute to the fight.

It wasn’t the homecoming Sanchez envisioned.

To his credit, at no point did he choose to roll over. Sanchez rose to his feet, and took his beating like a man while trying desperately to figure out how to punch his way back into the fight.

Meanwhile, Concepcion was a man on a mission. Once a flyweight titlist who exited the stage after a pair of knockout losses to Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez in 2011, the squat slugger from Panama steadily applied pressure while all but laughing off anything the local favorite had to offer.

Sanchez turned the tide in the middle rounds, clearly outworking the visiting challenger though at no point able to apply the pain and punishment that felled six of his last seven opponents. Round five featured terrific two-way action, the first time in the fight that Sanchez was able to command his opponent’s attention and even forcing him to take a backward step at times. 

Concepcion was content with getting outboxed and even taking a few shots, grinning and continuing to move forward, ensuring that Sanchez didn’t mistake his smile as a sign of being hurt. Regardless of the intended message, Sanchez continued to fight like a man who knew he was down and that every round counted if he was to reclaim the lead and leave the ring with his title still intact. 

The dream crashed and burned in the later rounds.

Whether it was efforts to get a second wind, or simply preserving himself for a strong finish, Concepcion eventually reclaimed momentum and never let go. The second knockdown of the main event came midway through round 10, with a combination upstairs prompting Sanchez to crash to the canvas as if he were a gunshot victim.

Once again, the local product beat the count, but this time bore the look of a man who needed to be rescued from himself. Sanchez had cuts under both eyes, his face a mask of blood in a sign of Concepcion’s ferocious power – even deadlier when given the chance to commit to his punches. 

He was never given that opportunity versus Carlos Cuadras earlier this year. Cuadras is known for his knockout power as well, but was fine with taking a clear-cut decision in their championship bout in April. It was Concepcion’s first attempt at a super flyweight title after having moved up in weight just last year. 

It took two tries, but Concepcion got it right in a big way. The end of round 10 saw Sanchez a beaten fighter, barely able to keep his head above his heart while on a stool in his corner. He had the benefit of attempting to recover as much as possible during the one-minute rest period.

Fortunately for the soon to be fallen champ, his cornermen were wise enough to look out for his best interests. The referee and ringside physician were already in Sanchez’ corner when his trainer waved his arms frantically, asking for the fight to be stopped. 

The official time was 3:00 of round 10. 

Sanchez snaps an 18-fight win streak as he falls to 28-3-2 (22KOs). His previous two losses – in 2009 and 2010 – were both by narrow decision, with Friday night the first time he was ever truly dominated in more than seven years as a prize fighter. 

Concepcion (33-4, 24KOs) straps a major belt around his waist for the first time since 2011, even if this is of the interim variety. The "full" titlist is Japan's Kohei Kono, who defends next month versus countryman Koki Kameda in Chicago, Illinois. 

Alphabet rules indicate he gets the winner of that fight. It doesn't always work out that way. It could turn out that Concepcion lands a rematch with Cuadras, or perhaps cashes in his chips in pursuit of another hoped-for upset versus divisional best Naoya Inoue.

There's no telling what the immediate future holds for Concepcion. Then again, there was no guarantee before Saturday's fight that he would still be a relevant player by fight's end - unless you were smart enough to listen to what he had to say on the subject. 

BARRAZA BATTERS YOUNG

Opening the telecast, Julio Barraza maintained his unbeaten record with a 10-round beatdown of a way too brave Adrian Young. Scores were 98-92 (twice) and absurdly close 97-95. 

Barraza (13-0, 9KOs) dominated the second half of the fight, rocking Young on several occasions. Young (22-2-2, 18KOs) somehow made it to the final bell, but with his right eye swollen completely shut and with a visit to the hospital likely in his immediate future. 

Both bouts aired live on TV Azteca in Mexico and via one-hour tape delay on beIN Sport Español in the United States.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter:   @JakeNDaBox
Facebook Page:   JakeBScene