Florante Condes is Very Eager To Battle With Joyi
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes is reportedly “highly motivated” for his IBF title eliminator against No. 3 ranked Nkosinati Joyi in East London, South Africa on June 26.
Condes leaves on Saturday along with well-known promoter Sammy Gello-ani and will meet up with manager Dante Ortiz who is a good cut-man and will work the corner for the Joyi fight since trainer Joven Jimenez was unable to obtain a visa.
Gello-ani said Condes sparred twelve rounds the other day at the Top Contender gym in Makati and looked in “good shape, happy and motivated” after the visa was released on Thursday afternoon and the Games and Amusements Board also released the Letter of Authority. He has no more problems” despite the disparaging remarks of former manager Aljoe Jaro who had claimed that Condes was selling “suman in Cainta.”
Gello-ani disclosed that the former IBF minimum weight champion was “ so happy right now because he was able to build a new house in his hometown of Romblon and said that if he gets a chance for another title fight he could buy some furniture and appliances for his home” which is in stark contrast with his career under Aljoe Jaro when he earned less than $3,000 when he won the title from Indonesia’s Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta on July 7, 2007.
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 and negotiated by Ortiz and respected South African promoter Branco Milenkovic who handles Joyi since 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.
