Filipino Boxer Florante Condes 25-5-1(21) came from nowhere in 2007 to rest the IBF Strawweight title from battle hardened Mohammad Rachman in Rachman’s home country of Indonesia. It looked as though the Philippines had a new star going by the moniker “Mini Pacquiao”, like his more famous countryman he was heavy handed and excited fans in his home country. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to capitalize on the title success and didn’t defend his crown in nearly a year before he was given another tricky assignment, he had to go to Mexico to face unbeaten mandatory Raul Garcia. It proved to much for him as he was turned back minus the title losing an agonizing twelve round split decision. Not perturbed he was determined to get the title back, after winning a a comeback fight he was once again on the road, this time to South Africa for a title eliminator for his old crown in the summer of 2009. He was up against highly thought of Nkoshinathi Joyi, an unbeaten puncher. Though he comprehensively lost to Joyi he put up a solid performance against the guy who’s today viewed as the number one at 105 in the world. He’s since rebounded to win two fights in 2010 which he hopes will place him for a bigger fight this year. While many question the need for a division so light and only 3 pounds shy of the Light Flyweight division it is clear from Condes what it means to him and his family from what it has brought to him. Here’s what the humble Filipino had to say.
Hello Florante, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly you beat Kenichi Horikawa on the 27 November in Cebu, what can you tell us about the fight and how happy were you with your performance in the fight?
Florante Condes – First of all Kenichi was not an easy opponent to beat, he was a tough fighter and I have high respect for him. But I prepared for that fight very hard to win and I am happy that I did.
Anson Wainwright – Though it’s early days, do you know when you may fight next? Who are you targeting?
Florante Condes – Actually my career now has been made alive by ALA Promotions, I am hoping they will still have next fights for me. But I dream to fight the championship…maybe have a rematch with Joyi and Raul Garcia. Wear an IBF belt again.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & promoter?
Florante Condes – My career is being handled by my family, my Aunt Loy and uncle Larry. At the moment I am promoted by ALA Promotions.I feel at peace and more confident in this kind of arrangement. After the fight I go home to my hometown Looc, Romblon.
Anson Wainwright – The ALA gym is well known throughout the world and you have many great fighters who train there. Could you tell us about some of them?
Florante Condes – ALA Gym has proven itself to have made many champions because they care for them. I am an outsider practically but ALA Gym took me as their own. They have fighters who became champions Donnie Nietes, Malcolm Tunacao, Rodel Mayol …and me ha ha ha.
Anson Wainwright – South African Nkoshinathi Joyi is widely regarded as the best Strawweight in the world, you fought him in a title eliminator 18 months ago. What are your thoughts on that fight & him?
Florante Condes – That was a traumatic but the most challenging fight I ever did. I fought in a country who disliked me and judged me as dead even before I went up the ring. I was alone. Joyi was the hardest opponent in my life as a boxer. He was taller and heavier. But I know I fought my best because he was not able to knock me down. I finished the fight up to the very last round.
Anson Wainwright – What about the other champions at 105 WBA Kwanthai Sithmorseng, WBC Oleydong Sithsamerchai & WBO Donnie Nietes?
Florante Condes – I am willing and ready to fight with anyone of them. Boxing is a sport…it is good to have many challengers and opponents. It will be an honor.
Anson Wainwright – You were born in Looc in the Philippines can you tell us about your early years and how tough things were for you growing up and how that took you into Boxing?
Florante Condes – I was born poor. I know how it was not to eat for three days straight. You see I am not tall but I have big dreams. To alleviate my family from poverty. As a child I was always a street boy who always gets in trouble and brawling. It was there that I discovered I could fight well and I had the power punch. In high school I joined amateur boxing and won all the time. I came to Manila to try my luck but I was so thin that nobody wanted to take me. But I never gave up on my dreams. The rest is history.
Anson Wainwright – Your nickname is “Little Pacquiao” you obviously look up to him but how did the nickname come about?
Florante Condes – Manny Pacquiao is hard to copy. He is like a god of boxing. But I am honoured that they named me “Little Pacquiao”. They called me that because all my wins were knock downs especially after my fight with Rachman and I won IBF title.
Anson Wainwright – If you weren’t a boxer what would you be doing today?
Florante Condes – I would have been a champion in Billiards. That is another sport where I am very good. I worked in a billiard game shop for so many years when I was young.
Anson Wainwright – What are your bobbies and Interests?
Florante Condes – I enjoy all boxing fights even when I was young. I also enjoy basketball and billiards.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a little about your life away from Boxing? What do you like to do with your time?
Florante Condes – After my bout I go home to Looc I built a house there at a lot I bought from my winnings. It is on top of a mountain away from the main town. I go to the mountains for hunting, stay there for some nights. Ordinarily, I just play with my friends.. cards, basketball, billiards.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Strawweight division?
Florante Condes – Thank you Strawweight division for giving a chance to a poor, simple, and not so popular boxer like me. Keep on supporting us boxers. We need your support. More power.
Thanks for your time “Little Pacquaio”
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Midweek Musings – Sadly last Thursday former British champion Gary Mason passed away after being involved in a road accident. Mason was 48 and a popular figure in the British Boxing fraternity. He was 37-1(34) with his lone loss to Lennox Lewis. He later went on to work for Sky TV…I was pretty disappointed that Jurgen Braehmer pulled out of the Light Heavyweight unification at the last minute with Beibut Shumenov, thankfully and i never thought I’d say that at this late stage of his career William Joppy stepped in and at least Shumenov was able to put on a show for his home fans…I’ve read several rumors over the last week about Jason Litzau’s next move, well we’re hoping to get an interview with him in the next few weeks so he may be able to tell us himself. Word is he can either drop back to Featherweight and fight Yuriorkis Gamboa for Gamboa’s titles on a Top Rank show or he can go fight Daniel Ponce De Leon on a Golden Boy show at 130 where’s he’s fought and done well of late. I’m interested as to why Golden Boy are looking at Litzau-Ponce De Leon at 130. The tough Mexican is on the verge of a title fight at Feather and it’ not like it’s a title shot, a fight with Litzau would be tough and with little reward…In Britain Mick Hennessy won the purse bid for Matthew Macklin to defend his European title against his fighter Darren Barker. That will be a big fight on this side of the pond. Hennessy has two weeks to announce a date, though it is expected that Barker will have first fight in early February having been out of action since last April…Also in European title news Northern Ireland’s Paul McCloskey will make the third defense of his crown against Michele Di Rocco on 5 March at the famous King Hall in Belfast.
If there are any fighters you would like to hear from you can contact me on elraincoat@live.co.uk
