TRUE, boxing’s minimumweight division is currently bereft of fighters who can rightly claim pound-for-pound stardom in this revitalized sport.
But for boxing manager Aljoe Jaro, his prot?g? Florante Condes might be the fighter who can give a new lease on life for the division that is long considered dull since the retirement of Mexican legend Ricardo Lopez in 2001.
In a radio interview yesterday, Jaro said Condes’s style aptly satiates the craving of fussy boxing fans who will shell out hard-earned money only if they are guaranteed of knockout loaded bouts.
Jaro, a former world title challenger himself, believes that his ward’s latest conquest is their stepping stone toward achieving full stardom.
“Ito na ang pagkakataon talaga. We’ll take advantage of it but we’ll do it prudently,” said Jaro over Sports Radio 918’s daily morning radio program Sports Chat.
According to Jaro, the only way for Condes to call himself a true superstar is to take on other champions of his division and take away their belts.
“Kailangang maging undisputed si Condes para siya ang kilalanin sa dibisyon niya. Siguro kung magawa niya ’yun, pwede na siyang umakyat ng division,” said Jaro.
Jaro said foremost among their plans is to challenge World Boxing Council (WBC) 105-lb ruler Eagle Kyowa and World Boxing Association (WBA) kingpin Yutaka Niida in a unification rumble sometime next year.
“Kailangan talaga na isang world champion lang ang kilalanin. That’s the only way para sumikat uli itong dibisyon,” said Jaro.
The 1990s saw supremacy of Lopez, a Hall-of-Fame Mexican world champion who retired undefeated in 52 bouts, 38 of which were by knockouts.
After winning the WBC title in October 1990 in Japan from Hideyuki Ohashi via a fifth-round TKO, Lopez defended the title 22 times and reigned as world champion for two decades.
Lopez, who retired after his eighth-round TKO win over Zolani Petelo on September 2001 in New York, gave integrity to their then underestimated division by successfully defending the crown even against local challengers from Japan, Thailand and Korea.
Saturday night in Jakarta, the 27-year-old Condes won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown with a close but well-deserved split decision victory over hometown bet Muhammad Rachman.
In the same interview, Jaro flatly denied the claims of Rachman’s promoter about a rematch clause.
“Hindi totoo ’yun. Mandatory title fight ’yung laban kaya hindi sila pwedeng magkaroon ng option,” revealed Jaro.
In a press conference several days ago in Jakarta, Rachman’s manager Martinez Dos Santos claimed that their promoter, Fandy Sugiarto, holds an option for a rematch and that they plan to exercise that option.
Jaro, however, said that he already informed the Rachman camp about certain conditions before Condes defends his crown in December.
Topping the proviso is a fight purse of not less than $150,000. For his title-winning effort last weekend, Condes pocketed a measly $3,700 purse.
Also among their demands is five-star hotel accommodations and six plane tickets going to and from Indonesia.
“Kung gusto nila ng rematch ready kami. Sundin lang nila yung mga requests namin,” added Jaro.
If nothing is finalized with Rachmans camp, Jaro disclosed the possibility of a title defense by Condes here in the Philippines.
Jaro said he is constantly communicating with a Latino counterpart regarding a potential Mexican challenger for Condes.
