INTERNATIONAL Basketball Federation minimumweight champion Florante Condes will make the first defense of his title on June 14 in Laz Paz, Mexico, against undefeated Raul ?Rayito? Garcia.
The Mexican earned a mandatory shot at Condes when he defeated Ronald Barrera (22-3-1, 14 KOs) of Colombia in a title eliminator last Feb. 29.
The IBF title eliminator was ordered after Condes suffered a severe wrist injury and a problem with his lower left back and was unable to fight Garcia in a planned title defense last Feb. 16.
Viva Sports/Standard Today learned that the purse bid was won by Adrulfo Castillo of ECO Promotions, who made an offer of $66,700. Castillo?s was apparently the only bid.
Condes has a record of 22-3-1, with 20 knockouts and is known as ?The Little Manny Pacquiao,? because of the southpaw?s punching power and aggressive style. Garcia has a record of 22-0-1 with 15 knockouts.
Under IBF rules on purse bids, Condes will receive 80 percent of the purse or around $53,360, while the mandatory challenger Garcia will receive some $13,340.
Promoter and boxing manager Sammy Gello-ani said Condes, who has been training since recovering from a severe wrist injury, would leave for Cebu City sometime next week to step up preparations for his first title defense. Gello-ani worked closely with matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz to move Condes? career forward after the champ broke away from his former manager Aljoe Jaro.
Condes won the title in a close fight with Indonesia?s Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta last July 7 and because of bitter differences with Jaro and an American group, including Dante Ortiz, promoter Bobby Bostick and former world junior welterweight champion Morris East, his career was put on hold.
