TWO FILIPINO pugs are going after International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles this weekend in different foreign venues.
On Saturday in Jakarta, Florante Condes faces defending champion Muhammad Rachmann of Indonesia for the minimumweight crown.
The following day at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Nonito Donaire slugs it out with Australian-Armenian titleholder Vic Darchinyan for the flyweight diadem.
The Philippines doesn’t have a legitimate world champion although Manny Pacquiao is regarded as the best in the super-featherweight division of 130 lbs even though he is belt-less at the moment.
In an interview over Sports Radio 91.8 yesterday morning, Donaire, who is now living in San Leandro, California, expressed confidence that he will get the job done.
“I am ready to go to war with this guy,” Donaire told radio anchor Dennis Principe. “I am physically and mentally prepared.”
Darchinyan is considered the best 112-pounder in the world today and is known for his left straight that has the force of a wrecking ball.
Darchinyan holds a 28-0 win-loss card with 22 knockouts, while Donaire sports a 17-1 slate with 10 knockouts.
The Romblon-born Condes, managed by former fighter Aljoe Jaro, is nicknamed “The Little Pacquiao” obviously because of his punching power.
Condes, 27, parades a 21-3-1 ledger stuffed with 20 knockouts, while Rachmann, 35, totes a 61-5 mark with 31 knockouts.
Two weeks after Condes and Donaire’s fights, Czar Amonsot of Bohol aims for the World Boxing Organization lightweight jewels of Michael Katsidis at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
