By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Two Filipinos battle for glory in the international boxing hotbeds of the Boardwalk in Atlantic City and the Orient Theater in East London , South Africa on Saturday [Sunday, Manila Time], hoping to reinforce the country’s growing stature as a world power in the sport exemplified by the exploits of the hero of Asia , Manny Pacquiao.
Former IBF minimumweight champion Florante “The Little Pacquiao” Condes, a hard-hitting southpaw battles undefeated South African Nkosinati Joyi in an IBF title eliminator with the winner earning a mandatory title shot at champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia of Mexico, while Philippine No.1 flyweight Fernando Lumacad clashes with Mexican warrior Jorge “Travieso” Arce for the IBF vacant Intercontinental super flyweight ti in a blockbuster Top Rank fight card in Atlantic City.
Lumacad’s manager, American Ken Smith who owns the American Boxing Academy gym in Digos, Davao in Southern Philippines told us he is certain only of one thing and that is that said that is that Lumacad (19-1-2, 7 KO’s) “will enter the ring unafraid and will engage (Jorge) Arce (51-5-1, 39 KO’s)”
Smith realizes that the clash with Arce “will be a hard fight” which he expects to go the full twelve round distance but stressed that the team which includes trainer Glenn Salazar was doing its best to “keep Fernando relaxed and focused” adding that the Filipino fighter was “as ready as can be” Smith added “we are all very confident even if the boxing world isn’t and even though Lumacad is a huge underdog” against Arce. He said the fight with Arce “is the biggest thing that happened to this kid.”
Meantime, well-known South African “International Promoter of the Year” Branco Milenkovic who is staging the fight card headlined by the Condes-Joyi eliminator “the weigh-in was fine today and everything is O.K. In the morning at 8:00 a.m. (In East London ) is the second weigh-in.”
He also mentioned that Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani who accompanied Condes to South Africa “left for home yesterday” adding “I don’t know the reason but he had some problem.”
Gello-ani told us earlier that Condes was “highly motivated” for the fight against the No. 3 ranked Joyi and looked in “good shape, happy and motivated” in his final twelve round sparring session at the Top Contender gym of trainer Joven Jimenez in Makati City. Gello-ani reported that “the way Condes moves right now is so different” compared to his previous style of just standing and slugging it out.
Should Condes beat Joyi he will get a chance for a rematch with champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia. The title eliminator was ordered by the IBF after Garcia who won the title by a split decision over Condes in his hometown of La Paz last June 14, 2008 was not keen on giving the hard-hitting Filipino a rematch.
Garcia successfully defended his title with a 6th round TKO over Ronald Barrera (26-6-1, 16 KO’s) also in La Paz when referee Rafael Ramos called a halt at 2:26 of the sixth round because of a cut over Barrera’s right eye.
Garcia had earlier beaten Barrera in a title eliminator on February 29 last year to earn the mandatory title shot at then champion Condes.
Since winning the title Garcia, also a southpaw, defended the title twice against Jose Luis Varela winning by a twelve round unanimous decision on both occasions, the first time on September 13 last year and the second time exactly three months later on December 13.
Joyi who is undefeated is a hard-hitting southpaw with a record of 15 knockouts in 19 wins, including a second round KO of Filipino Arman Dela Cruz in a battle for the vacant IBO title on November 4, 2006 and a first round knockout over Gabriel Pumar in a title defense on November 16, 2007.
In his last fight, Joyi who is ranked No. 3 by the IBF scored a second round knockout over Mexico ’s Lorenzo Trejo.
Condes who won the title from Rachman by a twelve round split decision lost the crown on June 14, 2008 also by a split decision to Raul “Rayito” Garcia in Mexico on June 12, 2008. Condes won a hard-fought fifth round technical decision in his last fight against Ronel Ferreras on December 13, 2008. Two of the three judges, Edwin Barrientos and Arnel Passion scored the fight which had to be stopped after a nasty gash caused by an accidental clash of heads for Condes 48-47 while the third judge Noel Flores had Ferreras the winner 48-47.
