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STORY OF PHILIPPINE BOXING PART XXXIX: FLORANTE CONDES, THE K. O. ARTIST AND IBF WORLD MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Thu, 21 May 2020  Florante Condes. Florante Condes, Jr., born on May 20, 1980 in Looc, Romblon, was nicknamed "Little Pacquiao" after the eight-division world champion. Condes had a very impressive professional debut on June 15, 2002 by knocking out Ruben Billones in the second round. However in his second pro fight, he lost to future world flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro on September 18, 2002 by split decision. In a rematch six months later he fulfilled his revenge by winning a 2nd round TKO over Jaro. Condes also chalked up three quick KO wins over Romel Engracia by 1st round TKO, Noel Guliman by 1st round KO and Ricky Seniego by 2nd round KO. He got a majority draw with Robert Rubillar before losing to Greg Mangan by unanimous decision. Then Condes came out victorious in eight successive fights via stoppage. He triumphed over Obet Desantores by 1st round KO, Danny Linasa by 4th round TKO, Ryan Bito by 4th round TKO, Danny Linasa again by 8th round TKO, Allan Dugang by 4th round TKO, Rollen Del Castillo by 9th round TKO, and over Thai fighter Sanan Nonglek 3K Battery twice both by 1st round KO. He suffered his third pro loss when he fought Benjie Sorolla in Quezon City by split decision on May 1, 2005. Little Pacquiao prevailed again over Danny Linasa in their fight this time by 4th round TKO. Then he defeated Jhay Herla by 6th round KO. He won as Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) minimumweight title by defeating Philip Parcon by 6th round TKO as he decked Parcon in the 4th round. Condes moved on collecting stoppage victories. He won against Elmer Gejon via 5th round TKO and took the Philippine minimumweight championship on February 9, 2006. He defended his title by knocking out Armando de la Cruz in the 5th round by TKO on April 4, 2006. Then he downed Jun Ebale in the 4th round to win by KO on June 26, 2006. Condes defended his Philippine title by flooring Fabio Marfa in the 6th round winning by TKO on September 17, 2006. Next in line was Julius Alcos whom he conquered by unanimous decision. On July 7, 2007, Condes became world champion when he won the International Boxing Federation world minimumweight title by a split decision over Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia at the RCTI Studio in Jakarta. He floored Rachman twice, first in the 3rd round and the second in the 10th. Rachman was the heavy favorite to retain his title having defended it successfully three times before his debacle. Judges Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines and Montol Suriyachand of Thailand, saw it 114-112 for Condes, while the Indonesian judge Muhammad Rois had it 114-112 for Rachman. After 11 months and 6 days of ring inactivity due to managerial and financial problems, Condes finally had the opportunity to defend his IBF title. But he lost his title on June 14, 2008 to Mexican Raul Garcia who was undefeated that time by a split decision. Condes lost by a controversial decision because he knocked Garcia down in the final round. American judge Adalaide Byrd scored it 118 - 110 and Mexican compatriot Alejandro Lopez Cid saw it 115-112 for Garcia. While only American judge Abraham Pacheco favored Condes 115-112. There was no Filipino judge while there was a Mexican. In his next fight, he faced countryman Ronelle Ferreras and won by a 5th round technical decision. The fight was halted due to a cut on Condes' right eyelid resulting from an accidental headbutt in the 5th round. Condes was leading in two of the judges' scorecards when the fight was stopped. He tried to regain the IBF minimumweight title by fighting South African Nkosinathi Joyi in an eliminator on June 26, 2009 in East London, South Africa. Unfortunately, Condes was floored in the 11th round and lost by unanimous decision. His career recovered when he garnered two victories over two foreigners: Sofyan Effendi of Indonesia by UD and Kenichi Horikawa of Japan by 7th round TKO. Condes, however, lost to future world champion Chayaphon Moonsri of Thailand by unanimous decision for the WBC international silver minimumweight title on June 24, 2011 in Bangkok. Thailand. On September 22 2012, he again lost in his attempt at the minor International Boxing Organization world minimumweight championship to South African Hekkie Budler in hostile Gauteng, South Africa. Again he was defeated by Donny Mabao for the WBC Asian Boxing Council continental minimumweight title on December 8, 2012 in Paranaque City. Then he won two successive fights, over Charlie Cabilla by UD and Cris Alfante by 7th round TKO for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific minimumweight title. This was followed by two successive losses, to Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi by UD and to Melvin Jerusalem by majority decision. Condes retired afterwards with 27 wins and 23 of these by KO for a very high 61% KO rate. In his 10 losses he was never been knocked out. He had also 2 draws. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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