MALACA?ANG IS rolling the red carpet for the country’s newest boxing heroes — the only ones who hold legitimate world titles — on Friday.
Set to welcome newly-crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) kingpins Florante Condes (mini-flyweight) and Nonito Donaire Jr. (flyweight) is President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who had many times in the past, received Manny Pacquiao at the Palace grounds as well as Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista and Brian Viloria.
Condes and Donaire grabbed their respective IBF crowns less than 12 hours from each other on July 7 with the 105-lb Condes carving out a 12-round split decision over Indonesian Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta and the 112-lb Donaire punching his way to a single-blow knockout win over Armenian-Australian Vic Darchinyan in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.
The Chief Executive is expected to reward the two boxers financially as in the past when Pacquiao received a bonus from Malaca?ang upon his return from a victorious campaign in the US.
Condes originally from Looc, Romblon, is now residing in Binangonan, Rizal, while Donaire is based in San Leandro, California, although he traces his roots in General Santos City.
Condes fights under the stable of longtime benefactor Aljoe Jaro, who also serves as his cornerman and manager as well.
Donaire, who speaks fluent Cebuano, Pilipino and English, is trained by his father Nonito Sr., managed by Cameron Dunkin and promoted by Gary Shaw.
Both fighters are being groomed to return to action later in the year with Condes aiming to get a slot underneath the Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas and Donaire eyeing to stake his crown in November or December in the US.
If Condes doesn’t get included in the Pacquiao-Barrera undercard, Rod Nazario, Condes’ business manager, will promote him on Oct. 27 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
