Philippines, 01 May 2025
  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:

  • Minnesota Timberwolves Oust Lakers; Gobert Finally Gets Back at Dončić
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • “FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVES” FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • BAM AND HITCHINS LAND HUGE SUMMER SHOWDOWNS LIVE ON DAZN
    , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • June 7: Kelvin Davis-Nahir Albright Junior Welterweight Rumble Added to Loaded Keyshawn Davis-Edwin De Los Santos Card at Norfolk’s Scope Arena
    , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH: A NIGHT OF BOXING IN LOS ANGELES ON MAY 22
    , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • Cavite beats San Juan and Pasig in PCAP
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 01 May 2025
  • BEKTEMIR “BEK” MELIKUZIEV AND THE UNDEFEATED DARIUS FULGHUM TO FIGHT IN WBA SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATOR
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • “FATAL FURY: CITY OF THE WOLVES” MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • WBC presents "Xicoténcatl" belt for the Canelo-Scull fight in Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • Thailand to host WBC 63rd Annual Convention in Phuket in November
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • Raymond Muratalla: "I’m Ready to Show Out on May 10!"
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • Training Camp Notes: Undefeated Lightweight Kaipo Gallegos Prepares for Clash with Pedro Castaneda Castro on May 9 in Orlando
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • “THE KING OF THE FOUR ROUNDERS” ERIC “BUTTERBEAN” ESCH TO ATTEND 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Wed, 30 Apr 2025
  • Action Summary Week Ending 28 April 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 29 Apr 2025
  • Butler, Green Show Up on Rockets in 109-106 Win
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 29 Apr 2025
  • Jerusalem Leads Five Pinoys in Ring's Ratings; Japan Dominates the Lower Weights Class
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 29 Apr 2025
  • Dableo Second in Sydney Standard Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 29 Apr 2025
  • Dreamland: Where Filipino Fists Lit Up San Francisco Nights
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • IM Concio wins Victoria Sports Club Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Tapales bags WBC International Silver super bantamweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Boston, NY and Minnesota One Win Away; Push Orlando, Detroit and LAL on Brink
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Sasaki Guns for Japan's First World Welterweight Title, Honor as Asia's Best Asian Boxing Nation
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • Raga beats Bañares in SBA Philippine Open, pockets ₱400,000 cash prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 28 Apr 2025
  • OK-C You Next Season, Memphis
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 27 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.