WILL FLORANTE CONDES BECOME THE COUNTRY'S NEW WORLD CHAMPION TODAY?
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 07 Jul 2007
Condes flexes his muscles at yesterday's weighin.
JAKARTA--Whether the Philippines will have its first world champion after a long time will be known today when Filipino Florante 'The Little Pacquiao' Condes vies for the International Boxing Federation minimumweight title against reigning champion Muhammad Rachman at the RCTI TV studio here.
A native of Romblon, the 27-year-old southpaw Condes has vowed to bring home that elusive world title with a knockout victory over the shifty world champion Rachman, who will be making his fourth title defense today.
At yesterday's official weigh-in, Condes came in at a very trim 103.8 lbs, while the reigning champion Rachman checked in at 104.3 lbs.
Condes then made the popular 'Pacman flex', showing his ripped muscles to a horde of mediamen and photographers who trooped to the RCTI conference room for the weigh-in.
Muhammad Rachman poses to photographers after coming in at 104.3 lbs after yesterday's weighin while Floranted Condes (at Rachman's back) prepars to tip the scales. Photo by Salven Lagumbay.
PhilBoxing writer Salven Lagumbay (R) poses with Muhammad Rachman and son yesterday in Jakarta.
"I am here to take the title away from your champion. Indonesia will be shocked. This is not going to the cards," Condes boldly predicted at the press conference, his eyes showing the fire that has been building up in him for this fight.
Third man on the ring for today's bout is Wayne Hedgepetch of New Jersey, while judges are Montol Suriyachand of Thailand, Salven Lagumbay of the Philippines and Muhammad Rois of Indonesia.
Supervising today's bout is IBF championship chairman Lindsey Tucker.
Rachman, an underrated world champion with tremendous boxing skills, has vowed to teach Condes a boxing lesson, and even predicted that this fight will end also by knockout.
"We both have power in our hands. But i am more skillful. I prepared long and hard for him," said Rachman as interpreted by his manager Martines Dos Santos.
To prepare for Condes, Rachman isolated himself in Blitar City, Indonesia, although there had been reports he was not getting the kind of quality sparring he needed for a fight of this magnitude.
"We are not worried of Condes. Rachman is old enough to know what needs to be done," said Dos Santos.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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