Five-division champion

Conditioning coach Alex Ariza, many times a vital part of Manny Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame journey, is so convinced of Kenneth Llover’s potential that he believes the unbeaten Filipino bantamweight is destined to become a five-division world champion.

“I sat down with Gerry. We have evaluated this kid and he’s just 22 years old. He’s young. From a physiological point of view, hormone levels, testosterone levels, everything is going up and he is growing,” Ariza, a native of Colombia, told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday.

Llover, unbeaten in 14 fights with nine knockouts, faces two-time world champion Luis Concepcion of Panama this Sunday at the Winford Resort Casino in Manila.

In the eyes of Ariza, the southpaw Llover is not just going to win a world crown at bantamweight (118 pounds) but will also add to his collection titles at super-bantamweight, feather, super-feather and even lightweight.

“I see a (1)22, I see a (1)26, I see a (1)30, I see a (1)35. We are not gonna do Manny Pacquiao,” Ariza said, stressing that Pacquiao’s unprecedented eight titles seems unreachable.

Ranked No. 14 by the World Boxing Council and No. 8 by the International Boxing Federation, Llover is using the Concepcion clash as part of his buildup for a world title elimination match on 12 October in Japan and “possibly a world title shot towards the end of the year,” according to Gerry Peñalosa, who runs Llover’s affairs.

With Peñalosa calling the shots in partnership with Kameda Promotions, all signs lead to a bright future for Llover, who is the reigning Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation bantam ruler.

“There’s gonna be one but I think if we start now, we start cultivating this guy and I give so much credit to Gerry (Peñalosa). Most people don’t sit there and they don’t have a vision like that of Gerry. Gerry has a plan. He’s got a future for this guy,” Ariza said.

Llover started working with Ariza just a couple of months ago and their teamup has produced results as they attempt to send Concepcion, sporting a 40-11 mark with 29 knockouts, home with a broken heart.

“It’s always hard to introduce something like what we do. It’s not gonna be be easy. He did everything, no complaints. Give credit to the trainers, parents. Everybody’s so welcoming. Treated us like family.”

With Ariza doing his thing with the help of a solid team made up of top nutritionist Teri Tom and Mexican noted chef Hector Pavon, he feels that Llover is destined to become boxing’s next superstar.

“I will do no wrong against this kid. I will do everything, turn every stone to make this kid a (world) champion). This is going to be a kid to watch.”

And with Peñalosa pledging his all-out support, Llover is bound to go places.

“Gerry’s really putting an effort to bring this kid to another level. I think we are going to give another champion to the Philippines.”