Philippines, 22 Nov 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The Condes Debacle: A Crying Shame


PhilBoxing.com




A couple of months ago, I was invited to a GMA TV show called ?Palaban? along with some other personalities to discuss Philippine boxing.

One of the guests was IBF Minimumweight champion Florante Condes, who had wrested the crown from Mohamed Rachman last July in the latter?s home turf-Jakarta, Indonesia.

I had covered several Condes fights in the past and was always very impressed by the power this little guy packs in his mitts. No wonder people dubbed him as the ?Little Pacquiao?. An avowed fan of the Filipino boxing icon, Condes has lived up to the billing and makes no bones about emulating the fighting style of the pacman.

When I saw him at the TV studios, his back was turned but there was no mistaking the finely-chiseled physique of a serious athlete. It was ?Bebot? Elorde who informed me that it was indeed the champ, Florante Condes.

When I approached him, he easily returned my greeting and we fell into a casual conversation. I asked him when his next fight was (there was news of a Rachman rematch) and he replied that he was told it was going to be in January.

It came as a shock therefore, when I heard Condes being interviewed by Dennis Principe over Sports Radio the other day and to hear the frustration and desperation in his voice as he proclaimed that he was seriously considering giving up his boxing career.

In a plaintive and emotional tone, he expressed his utter despair at the turn of events. ?Ngayon pang world champion na ako, at saka gumulo? (it?s ironic that my life has turned into shambles now that I am a world champion). He said over and over that as of now, he feels his career in boxing has come to an end.

The root of his problem seems to be his managers. In September of 2006, he and his acknowledged handler Aljoe Jaro signed a promotional arrangement with American promoters Cesar Trevino and Bobby Bostick and Puerto Rican co-manager Dante Ortiz to help get him fights in the international arena.

After winning the world championship, the foreigners and Jaro had a falling out which even culminated in a shouting match cum walk-out during a mediation meeting at the GAB between the two groups. However, at the end of the meeting, both camps claimed the misunderstanding had been cleared up and all was well.

Apparently, it was not. Condes claims to this day, nothing has happened with regards his career all because of the dispute between Jaro and his foreign counterparts. It has been compounded by his discovery that his registered manager with the GAB is not Aljoe Jaro but Mrs. Jaro.

Condes feels betrayed and he cannot fathom why this was kept a secret from him. Also, he grudgingly revealed that he has not received the purported $10,000 signing bonus the Americans claim they had paid him through Jaro.

Asked if he was keeping himself in shape, Condes replied ?What for? Why should I train for a future that is not even clear?? Such is his despondency that he practically shunned all of Principe ?s assurances that everything will be sorted out eventually.

In our years of covering boxing, we have seen and heard of many boxers with similar tales of distress. But this one tugs at the heart because Condes is full of promise and hope.

I recall him relating to us during the taping of that TV show that he actually went into boxing at a rather advanced age; he never passed through the amateurs but went directly to the pros as a way out of poverty.

Just a few months ago, it seemed the way was indeed cleared for this young man from Romblon. Now, the specter of going back to the slums looms ominously for this once-hopeful 26 year old who says even more than earning good money and plaudits, giving honor to his countrymen was his prime motivation.

?I just want to fight for my country and for my ambitions. But how can I when the people around me keep bickering and fighting??

It took so many years for the Philippines to have a world champion again and this year we got four-Condes, Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Penalosa and Donnie Nietes.

Most of us think we can get more. But we cannot give one up outside the ring.

That would be nothing short of tragic- for us and a little big man named Condes.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed Picson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Dante Kirkman Secures First Career Knockout with 3rd Round TKO Victory
    , Fri, 22 Nov 2024
  • Filipino Middleweight Star Blazen Rocili Set to Return to the Ring This Saturday in San Antonio, TX
    , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • Stallone hands Donald Trump WBC world champion belt
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • Filipino International Master Garma beats Lithuanian Grandmaster
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • Saturday: Bakary Samake-Wade Ryan & Elwin Soto-Moisés Caro Headline Separate Fight Cards Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
    , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • TrillerTV Launches Exclusive Black Friday Deal: 50% Off TrillerTV+ Annual Pass for Year-Round Sports Entertainment
    , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • New NCFP Regional Coordinator
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • DC netters are now ready for BP
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • Pelicano tops in Dayaw OCR
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 21 Nov 2024
  • The Past Week in Action 19 November 2024: Katie Taylor Oupoints Amanda Serrano; Barrios-Ramos Ends in Split Draw; Paul Defeats Tyson
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • Celtics Stop Cavs' Win Streak, 120-117
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • Garma gains tie for 11th place in World Senior
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • DC to participate in first Jiu-Jitsu in Batang Pinoy
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • USA Boxing National Championships Four Weeks Away in Richmond, VA
    , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS BROOKLYN HEAVYWEIGHT PROSPECT PRYCE TAYLOR
    , Wed, 20 Nov 2024
  • Rockets Rebuilding Beginning to Pay Off
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • Will Shigeokas Go After Our Pinoy Champs or Go for the Homerun Versus Oscar Collazo?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
    , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • Garma bounces back in World Seniors Chess
    , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • SPORTS SHORTS 283: JOHN RIEL CASIMERO SAYS HE WILL RETIRE AND WON'T FIGHT AGAIN WITHOUT INOUE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • Former World Heavyweight Champion Oliver McCall Ready for Record Setting Performance on Tuesday Night in Nashville
    , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • CAROLINE VEYRE VISE LA CEINTURE WBC INTERNATIONAL DES POIDS PLUMES MARK TAFFET DEVIENT SON COGÉRANT
    , Tue, 19 Nov 2024
  • Bad Start for Pinoy Chessers in Portugal World Seniors
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 18 Nov 2024
  • Wagdos, Catubig rule MILO Davao leg
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 Nov 2024
  • Saludar wins WBA Inter-continental bantamweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 18 Nov 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.