By Ronnie Nathanielsz
International Boxing Federation – IBF – minimum weight champion Florante Condes was scheduled to begin sparring at the famed ALA Gym yesterday afternoon after the champion arrived in Cebu City on Monday evening.
Well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani who along with international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz helped arrange the title defense against mandatory challenger Raul "Rayito" Garcia in the Mexican’s hometown of La Paz said Condes would spar a total of four rounds with former IBF world light flyweight title challenger Bert Batawang (51-7, 35 KO’s)who is currently rated No. 10 and Federico Catubay (20-14-3, 11 KO’s) who lost by a 12th round TKO to Vic Darchinyan in a battle for the vacant IBO super flyweight title last October 20, 2007.
Gello-ani said trainer Danny Bactol accompanied Condes along with a brother of the IBF champion who would prepare his meals and attend to his needs as well as an uncle Larry Valencia.
Condes had a hearty dinner last night at the popular Double A restaurant and according to Gello-ani has no problems with his weight which is currently at 110 pounds. However, Gello-ani said the concern was Condes’ stamina and that trainer Bactol would concentrate on getting Condes into good physical condition. He started off by jogging yesterday morning.
Gello-ani said they wouldn’t push Condes too hard at first and would slowly build up his stamina and hone his skills in sparring.
Condes who won the title in a tough fight against Indonesia’s Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta is expected to have a hard time in defending his title against the undefeated Garcia who has a record of 22-0-1 with 15 knockouts and will have the advantage of fighting in his hometown. Condes, a hard-hitting southpaw has a record of 20 knockouts in 22 wins with 3 losses and 1 draw.
His former trainer and listed manager Aljoe Jaro with whom Condes has a falling out said that the Filipino will have to go for an early knockout if he hopes to retain his title. At the same time Aljoe Jaro claimed that the $50,000 purse was too small even though when Condes battled Rachman for the title, he wound up with only $3,000.
Garcia earned the mandatory shot at Condes after scoring a lopsided unanimous points decision over Ronald Barrera of Colombia in a title eliminator ordered by the IBF after Condes injured both his wrist and his back and a scheduled title fight against Garcia in February had to be called off.