Florante Condes, known in the local boxing scene as ?Little Pacquiao,? makes the first defense of his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown against Raul Garcia on June 14 in La Paz, Mexico.
Condes faces a tough challenger in Garcia, who parades an unblemished win-loss-draw card of 22-0-1 with 15 knockouts. Garcia earned the title shot after defeating Ronald Barrera of Colombia last February in a title elimination bout.
The southpaw Condes? record is also as sparkling as Garcia?s.
The 27-year-old Filipino holds a 22-3-0 card with 20 stoppages and he too the IBF 105-lb title last July, 2007 by hammering out a 12-round split decision over the durable Indonesian Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta.
To prepare for Garcia, Condes will train at the famed ALA Boxing Club (Antonio L. Aldeguer) in Cebu City before flying to Mexico.
Garcia is also making sure he is in perfect shape for his title challenge. ?Nick Giongco
