Florante Condes, world’s fourth ranked Filipino boxer who sports a ring name ‘The New Pacquiao’, earned a shot to challenge Indonesian champion Mohammad Rachman for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title on June 16 in Jakarata, Indonesia.
Boxing manager Aljoe Jaro expressed optimism that Condes will bring home the IBF crown right in his first fight outside the Philippines due his string of victories via knockouts.
“I’m 100 percent sure that Florante will beat defending champion Rachman. He is in great condition for his fight outside the country,” Jaro, himself a former two-time world superfly challenger, said.
The 26-year-old Condes has tallied seven straight wins via stoppages before scoring unanimous victory against Julius Alcos (11-2-0) in December last year.
Condes, a southpaw, has three defeats in 25 fights but had stopped 20 opponents, including Sanan Nonglek 3K Battery of Thailand, in short distance to pack an impressive ring record of 21-3-1.
“Because of his ability to stop opponents in short distance, he is being called ‘The New Pacquiao.’ He fights like Manny Pacquiao and I’m confident, he will beat Rachman,” Jaro said.
Rachman, a 35-year-old veteran of 71 fights, remains a dangerous opponent since he has not tasted defeat since 1998.
Rachman, who has ring record of 61-5-5, including 31 via knockouts, captured his IBF title from Colombian Daniel Reyes via unanimous decision in September of 2004.
The Indonesian reigning champion had already six Filipino victims including: Benjie Sorolla (twice), Noel Tunacao, Jun Arlos, Steve Dimaisip, Bert Batawang and Roger Manaquil. (PNA)
