GARCIA-CONDES REMATCH IN THE WORKS

Newly crowned IBF minimumweight champ Raul 'Rayito' Garcia of Mexico who snatched the title from former Filipino champ Florante Condes last Saturday in La Paz, Baja California Sur, is willing to give Condes a rematch, according to Condes' Puerto Rican manager Dante Ortiz.

Ortiz told PhilBoxing.com that he had a talk today with Garcia's promoter Edrulfo Castillo who told him that Garcia's party will definitely give Condes a rematch. Both parties are looking at a date in November or early December for the fight to happen.

Ortiz said that Castillo is looking for Garcia to make one title defense before facing Condes again. "They want to savor of being a champion for a while before they'll face Condes again because they knew that a second fight with Condes would be more difficult," Ortiz added.

Ortiz and Castillo both agreed that a Garcia-Condes rematch is good for the fans and good for business because even with the short time that Condes was in La Paz, he had captured quite a following among local boxing afficionados. "Condes is now very popular in La Paz," Ortiz said. "After the split decision verdict was announced and while we were walking from the ring to the dugout, which was a long walk, Condes was loudly applauded by the audience chanting 'Florante, Florate' during our entire walk."

Ortiz has attributed the long layoff as the main culprit of Condes' loss to Garcia and he, together with promoter Sammy Gello-ani, are looking to give Condes one or two fights before taking on Garcia again. "I have not lost my faith in Florante. With proper guidance, motivation and training, he will capture the title again," Ortiz concluded.