Arroyo Praises Condes and Donaire

By Rey Danseco
 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo congratulated the Philippines’ newest boxing heroes Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire Jr. for winning world titles under the International Boxing Federation (IBF) in Indonesia and United States over the weekend.

In a statement released Monday, Arroyo praised Condes and Donaire for taking the title belts despite being tagged as underdogs.

According to the President, they exemplified “the fighting spirit of the Filipino athlete” on the same date of July 7.

“We salute their achievement and rejoice in their victory. These men, described in the press as underdogs, prove they belong to the league of champions,” she said.

In Jakarta late Saturday night, the 27-year old Condes, who hails from Romblon but trains for boxing in Rizal, needed two knockdowns in the third and 10th rounds to dethrone local hero Muhammad Rachman with a split decision and claimed the IBF minimumweight title at RCTI (Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia) studio).

Donaire, a California-based native of General Santos City, knocked out previously unbeaten champion Vic Darchinyan with thunderous left hook in the fifth round to capture the IBF flyweight belt Saturday (Sunday in Manla) in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

We salute their achievement and rejoice in their victory," Arroyo said.

“Like them, we shall never give up or give in until we emerge victories in the battle against poverty and terror.” 

Before the victories, Arroyo never gave any message to the little-known boxers and no Philippine television or radio stations coverage in the bouts.

Condes and Donaire were both asked by their victims for a rematch. Condes seems like he is going to decline but Donaire may get the challenge, primarily because Darchinyan is also under Gary Shaw Productions.