THERE is a big possibility two Filipinos will face each other in a world title-unification bout sometime next year.
Aljoe Jaro, the manager of International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimum weight champion Florante Condes, is optimistic his ward will face another Filipino in a unification clash.
On September 30 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, Filipino Donnie Nietes battles undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight crown.
?We could fight if Nietes wins. Condes really wants to become undisputed champion. If the Nietes camp wants a unification bout, I?m game,? said Jaro in an interview on the morning radio program Sports Chat on dzSR 918 yesterday.
Initially, Jaro wanted to pit Condes against then-WBO minimum weight ruler Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico. Weeks ago, however, Calderon moved up in weight and successfully won the WBO light-flyweight crown from Hugo Cazares of Mexico. Calderon then decided to vacate the minimum weight throne.
Being the division?s top two contenders, Nietes and Kratingdaenggym got the nod of the WBO bosses in fighting for the vacated title.
The 27-year-old Condes told the BusinessMirror recently that it is imperative for him to unify the 105-lb division and get noticed as a certified superstar.
Being the lightest among all divisions in boxing, the minimum weight category has struggled in establishing its niche in pay-per-view (PPV) showing because it lacked explosiveness among its combatants.
The minimum weight division had its finest moment during the late 1990s when Mexican legend Ricardo ?Finito? Lopez dominated the scene that made him a familiar fixture in major PPV cards.
Lopez ended his 16-year career unscathed, tallying a record of 51-0-1 with 38 knockouts in winning four world titles in two divisions.
?I want to fight the other world champions to have an undisputed champion in the minimumweight,? said Condes in a recent interview.
In another interview, boxing manager Marty Elorde disclosed that Nietes has all the tools to beat Kratingdaenggym in their 12-round encounter.
Elorde?s fighter Benjie Sorolla was the last boxer to face Kratingdaenggym last month in Bangkok, where the Filipino lost via unanimous verdict.
?I think Nietes has a very good chance. The Thai is also strong but his punches can be telegraphed. Technically, Nietes has the advantage,? said Elorde.
A Bacolod City native, Nietes, a 25-year-old prot?g? of Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, has a record of 21-1-3 with 13 knockouts, while Kratingdaenggym is unbeaten in 20 bouts with 15 stoppages.
Meanwhile, Jaro admitted that all is not still well within their camp as their American promoter Cesar Trevino continues to insist in staging Condes?s first title defense in the US.
Last month Trevino and Jaro met at the office of Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain and supposedly settled their differences by agreeing to work hand-in-hand in charting Condes?s future.
?Our conversations with GAB before were quite clear, that the first title defense of Condes would be held here. Now they?re insisting on holding it in the US,? said a disgusted Jaro.
Jaro added that Trevino and another American partner Bobby Bostick are planning to fly in within the week and discuss matters regarding Condes?s next fight.
Jaro said he has the backing of local promoter Rod Nazario in staging the first title defense of Condes in a rematch against former champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia sometime in November at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Condes won the crown from Rachman via split decision in July in Jakarta, Indonesia.
?Everything would have been worked out by now. We already fixed the date and venue. But if they want Trevino then they should promote it here in the Philippines so we could give in to the Condes?s request,? Jaro said.
