FROM zero to two.
The conquest of Florante Condes of the IBF Mini-flyweight title and the stunning knockout victory of Nonito Donaire for the IBF and IBO flyweight belts, gave the Philippines its first two world champions, since Manny Pacuqiao relinquished his IBF super-bantamweight belt in 2003.
Condes scored a split decision win to unseat Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia at the Indoor Tennis Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia Saturday night while Donaire put down Armenian champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan with a good left hook on the fifth round yesterday at the Harbor Yard Arena of Bridgeport, Connecticut in the US.
Condes of Romblon, (23-3-1, 20KOs) floored Rachman twice—first on the third with a left and on the 10th using a right straight—to earn 114-112 scores from Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines and Montol Suriyachand of Thailand. Muhammad Rois though gave his compatriot a 117-113 tally.
In the bag
Meanwhile, Pinay fans shouldn’t stop counting yet as five more Filipinos are vying for a world title in the next two months for the glory of the country.
In Connecticut, Donaire (18-1, 11KOs) surprised the heavily-favored Darchinyan (28-1, 22KOs), who came into the fight unbeaten, with a cunning game plan to control the game at the onset before releasing a killer left to the chin at the 38-second mark of the fifth round that put the 31-year old Australian-based champion on the canvas for several minutes.
Donaire of General Santos City, avenged the losses of two previous Filipino challengers of Darchinyan—that includes his older brother Glenn in October last year and Diosdado Gabi’s TKO loss in March 2006.
Darchinyan who held the IBF title when he defeated Irene Pacheco in December 2004 and added the IBO belt when he defeated Mzukisi Sikali in March 2005, was successful in six defenses before crashing to Donaire.
Fights
Meanwhile, July 21 (July 22 RP time) Boholano Czar Amonsot will be gunning for the WBO Lightweight interim title against the undefeated Michael Katsidis in Las Vegas, on Aug. 4 Cebuano Rodel Mayol will take a shot at Ulises Solis’ IBF light flyweight belt in Chicago; on August 11 Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista will challenge Daniel Ponce De Leon for the WBO super bantamweight championship and former world champion Gerry Pe?alosa will seek his second world title against WBO bantamweight champion Johnny Gonzales both in Sacramento-California; and on Sept.1 Cebuano Eribero “Ioka” Gejon will gun for the WBA minimum weight belt in Tokyo, Japan.
