The much-anticipated IBF titular challenge of Filipino Florante Condes on reigning champion Muhammad Rachman has been moved to June 30 in Jakarta, Indonesia reportedly after organizers and television could not reach an agreement with the venue.
Fandy Sugiarto, who is assisting promoter Albert Papilaya, informed IBF Championship Chairman Lindsey Tucker of the new date after the latter had given the Indonesian promoter a 24-hour ultimatum to come up with a definite date for the fight.
Concerns had been raised on whether or not the fight would push through after Team Condes and the officials who will work the fight had not received any communication from the organizers, prompting the IBF to set an ultimatum.
Aljoe Jaro, who manages Condes, informed in an interview yesterday that they were supposed to fly out to Jakarta on Monday, but was ‘too worried’ as no one had contacted him regarding their accomodation and arrival details.
Martines Dos Santos, who manages Rachman, informed yesterday in an exclusive interview that they are trying to make good on the June 16 date, and the Indonesian government would even help to make sure the fight pushes through.
Las Vegas-based Dante Ortiz, who co-manages Condes also stated yesterday: “There are some problems with the promoters from Indonesia, today early this morning I spoke with Lindsey Tucker about it and he will send an ultimatum for 24 hours to them or to declare the title vacant. Look like Rachman people do not whant to fight Florante Condes ” The Lion From Manila”.
“None of the officials for that fight have been notified and I just received an E-Mail today from the manager of Condes. According to him, no one has contacted him about his travel to Jakarta. He wants to leave on Monday, June 11, 2007. I have sent several E-Mails to Seminole Warriors Boxing, Sampson Lewkowicz and Fandy Sugiarto stating that the fight is getting very close and none of the officials have been contacted in regards to their travel and hotel arrangements,” said IBF championship chairman Lindsey Tucker in his email to the organizers.
The Rachman-Condes fight went into purse bid at the IBF office on April 5, 2007. Seminole Warriors Boxing, headed by Leon Margules, won the purse bid and contracts were submitted to the IBF by Warriors for a June 16, 2007 date in Jakarta, Indonesia. The IBF then approved the fight on April 23, 2007.
Other sources from Indonesia, however, reveal that monetary problems have been hampering the promotion, as the country’s sports authority has ruled that organizers deposit the boxers’ purses before the fight can take place.
The move is apparently done to avoid a repeat of the recent Chris John WBA title defense, where the reigning champion only got his purse days after the fight after organizers
