CONDES MANDATORY AGAINST GARCIA-BARRERA WINNER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 31 Jan 2008
IBF minimum weight champion Florante Condes will face the winner of an elimination bout between Raul "Raiyto" Garcia of Mexico and Ronald Barrera of Colombia on February 26 in La Paz, Mexico.
IBF Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Garcia who is rated No. 5 and Barrera who is rated No. 7 are "the two highest-rated available mini-flyweights and will fight in an IBF sanctioned eliminator and the mandatory position." The winner will be the mandatory challenger to Condes who won the title from Indonesia?s Muhammad Rachman on July 7, 2007 in Jakarta.
Tucker reported that Rachman who is ranked higher than Barrera at No.6 was "unavailable" but he didn?t know whether the Indonesian had "any medical problems." Tucker made the comment after Viva Sports was informed that Rachman was allegedly found to have tested positive for hepatitis. Because of concerns in the Condes camp, the Filipino world champion was recently tested and found negative.
Tucker also clarified claims that should Garcia win the eliminator, the Condes title defense would have to take place in Garcia?s hometown of La Paz because the previous title defense was called off due to Condes? severe right wrist sprain and back problems. The IBF official said the IBF "cannot decide where our championship fights are held." He said the IBF gives the two sides 30 days to negotiate the fight and if the tnwo camps "cannot agree who will promote the fight, where and when, we call for a Purse Bid."
The winner of the Purse Bid decides when and where the title defense of Condes will be held. The IBF earlier set May 7 as the deadline for the mandatory title defense.
Garcia is clearly favored over Barrera in the eliminator having an impressive undefeated record of 21-0-1 with 15 knockouts as against Barrera who has a 22-3-1, 14 KO?s record and hasn?t beaten anybody of real note. His last four victories were a third round KO and a second round KO over Jose Humberto Caraballo (2-12-2), an eight round unanimous decision over Nelson Cantero (0-8) and a redeeming twelfth round split decision loss to WBO champion Ivan Calderon who is not a heavy puncher but an excellent boxer.
Garcia in contrast won the Mexican minimum weight title with a twelve round split decision over tough Sammy Gutierrez, a first round KO over patsy Noe Flores (0-8) and a unanimous twelve round decision in a title defense against talented Oscar Saturnino.
Condes in the meantime continues to stay in shape by doing his regular roadwork and also undergoing twice-a-week therapy.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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