Artem Dalakian and Luis “Nica” Concepcion were face to face for the first time before their fight on Saturday for the World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight title.

On Tuesday, a press conference was held prior to the bout, which will take place at the Akko International arena in Kiev, Ukraine. The champion Dalakian and his mandatory challenger Concepcion spoke to the press, had their first face to face and began to warm up for this weekend’s bout.

The home fighter has been champion since February 2018 and has made four defenses of his crown. He stressed that his only goal is for the black and gold belt to stay in Ukraine no matter how difficult the challenge against Concepcion may be.

The Panamanian, for his part, knows he is facing a great opportunity. He became the mandatory challenger thanks to the fact that he was the interim champion when the WBA world title reduction plan was initiated and this gave him the right to face the 112 lbs. champion.

The “Nica” arrives with great motivation and with the intention of giving a new world champion to Panama, but he will have to work hard as a visitor against an undefeated fighter.

On Friday will be the weigh-in ceremony, in which both must weigh 112 pounds to be qualified for Saturday. Dalakian has 20 wins, no losses and 14 knockouts, while Concepcion comes in with a record of 39 wins, 8 losses and 28 knockouts.