By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The Filipino manager of IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes says his fighter didn’t sign any contract agreeing to fight Mexican Raul Garcia on February 16 in La Paz, Mexico.
In fact Jaro said Condes didn’t even receive a bout contract from co-manager Dante Ortiz, an American of Puerto Rican descent.
The Filipino manager who nurtured the career of Condes and helped him win the world title in a close but exciting bout with Indonesian champion Muhammad Rachman insisted they wouldn’t fight in the Mexican’s hometown saying Condes is the champion and it would be foolish to fight in the challenger’s hometown because of the obvious possibility of a hometown decision.
IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that the world organization had approved the first title defense of Condes based on a co-manager’s contract on filed with the IBF by Ortiz . Tucker said that under that contract Ortiz “has the right to make the fights if Condes becomes rated in the top five of any of the major sanctioning bodies or becomes champion.”
However, it was pointed out that the fighter should be protected at all times and that unless he agrees to a fight and the terms and signs a bout contract no co-manager can sign on his behalf and agree on the terms because the co-manager, in this case Ortiz, is not the one who fights in the ring.
The Muhammad Ali act in particular frowns on this type of action in which the v boxer has no protection. Besides, it was also pointed out that Condes’ purse for the Rachman title fight was a measly $3,500/-.
Tucker made it clear that the IBF does not get involved in contract disputes. There are indications however that the Philippine Games and Amusements Board headed by chairman Eric Buhain will be forced to take action under its mandate to protect Filipino boxers because by all indications Condes’ contract with Ortiz and Bobby Bostick Promotions is patently onerous.
Efforts by Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today to contact Ortiz and Bostick’s representative Cezar Trevino in the past have proven unsuccessful.
