By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine minimum weight champion Florante Condes is to get a crack at the IBF title currently held by Indonesia’s Muhammad Rachman according to Dante Ortiz one of the co-managers of Condes along with former boxer Aljoe Jaro who has a stable of fighters.
Former WBC junior welterweight champion Morris East and Ortiz called Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today from Las Vegas and said that Condes was regarded as a mandatory challenger and that negotiations with Rachman’s handlers were underway for a title fight on May 6 either in Las Vegas or Los Angeles.
Ortiz claimed the Indonesian champion was willing to defend his title in the US which was considered a surprise since both Rachman and featherweight champion Chris John like to defend their titles in Indonesia where they are often favored with hometown decisions.
Rachman is 35 years old and has a record of 61-5-5 with 31 knockouts while the hard-hitting Condes, a 26 year old southpaw with a devastating punch has a record of 21-3-1 with 20 knockouts. Condes is coming off an eight round unanimous decision over Julius Alcos last December 9 while Rachman won by a six round TKO over Filipino Benjie Sorolla in his last title defense on December 23, 2006 in Jakarta. Sorolla’s manager Marty Elorde protested against what he felt was a premature stoppage by referee John Wright.
