By  Ronnie Nathanielsz

Undefeated Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. and former two-time title challenger Bernabe "The Real Deal" Concepcion engaged in a torrid six-round sparring session Tuesday in preparation for a big fight card at the Mandaluyong City Gym on July 26.

Both fighters tore into each other with vicious combinations which thrilled other boxers and a few fight fans who watched the action at the Elorde Gym at Star Mall in Mandaluyong.

Peñalosa Jr.— the son of Dodie Boy Peñalosa and nephew of the classy Gerry Peñalosa, both of whom were former two-division world champions— will battle Indonesia's Yon Armed in the main event. Concepcion, who returns following a one-year layoff, will face dangerous southpaw and former world rated Eden Sonsona. 

There was no let-up in the six rounds which looked more like a real ring war than a sparring session with Peñalosa Jr. twice catching Concepcion with low blows in the heat of the action.  Gerry Peñalosa told Viva Sports that he was impressed with the improvement shown by Dodie Boy Jr and the form of power punching Concepcion. 

Dodie Boy Jr's younger brother Dave Peñalosa sparred four rounds with Ronald Ponteras and although they too had some furious exchanges they were not of the same fierceness as the Peñalosa Jr-Concepcion slugfest.

Fighting in a venue where “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao earned a reputation as an exciting, hard-hitting southpaw, both Dodie Boy Jr and Dave are determined to give fight fans the same kind of excitement that Pacquiao provided when he hammered a string of opponents wn route to becoming one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Peñalosa Jr. (12-0, 11KO) faces rugged Indonesian Yon Armed (11-5-1, 6KOs), the super featherweight who is known for his go-for-broke fighting style; while Dave will take on rugged 22-year old Danilo “Brutos” Gabisay (5-2, 3KOs), a tough fighter who trains in Baguio City.