Minimumweight crown holder Florante Condes will again face a challenger in an “against-all-odds” type of fight.

Interviewed by Sports Radio’s Sports Chat Tuesday morning, Condes said it has been a struggle for him not to fight for nearly a year since winning the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown.

“No matter how hard I train in the gym and face the best sparring partners, it is still totally different when you go up and fight inside the ring,” said Condes in Filipino. “In sparring, you have the luxury of turning your back and asking for time if you’re hurt. But in an actual fight, you can never do that.”

Condes, 27, is scheduled to defend his IBF belt against mandatory challenger Raul “Rayito” Garcia of Mexico in a 12-round encounter on June 14 right in the challenger’s bailiwick in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

“As long as I’m standing, I will defend my crown because I worked hard in winning it,” said Condes “I also appreciate the support of Filipino boxing fans who motivate me despite the problems I encountered before.”

Condes had a falling-out with former manager Aljoe Jaro, which led to the filing of formal complaint with the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). Condes later learned that Jaro’s wife, Alice, is his registered manager. Condes now stays with his uncle Apolinar Valencia.

The problem started when the Romblon-native Condes accused Jaro of short-changing him in his finances. Condes said he was promised a house and lot by Jaro, besides a share of the $10,000 paid the manager by Las Vegas-based Puerto Rican manager Dante Ortiz.

Jaro, before Condes’s ascension to the throne, tied up with Ortiz but the two later on had their own dispute. Condes is now under the care of Ortiz who also hooked up with Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

“I now have my lawyer to take care of the case so I can now focus with my fight,” said Condes, whose case is handled by Edgar Padernal.

Condes (22-3-1, 20 knockouts) won the IBF belt July last year in Indonesia, against local boy Muhammad Rachman whom the Filipino banger beat via a close split decision.

The undefeated Garcia (22-0-1, 15 knockouts) earned the right to face Condes when he decisioned Colombian Ronald Barrera in 12 rounds in February at the Estadio Arturo C. Nahl, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Balanced attack

It is almost tempting to joke today about the fact that Tiger Woods got to within four victories of winning the 2008 Grand Slam. Or, to put it another way, Trevor Immelman is one win closer to a sweep of the major championships than Woods.

Woods winning as many times as placing runner-up

AUGUSTA, Georgia—So Tiger Woods is still stuck on 13 major championships and looking forward to the chance to get another one in June at the US Open at Torrey Pines, where he will once again be reminded he’s chasing Jack Nicklaus’s record 18 majors.

HARBOUR CENTRE played almost flawlessly to beat a pesky Toyota Otis squad, 99-92, Tuesday night and march into the semifinals unscathed of the 2008 Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Lipovitan Amino Sports Cup at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in Manila.

IT’S not exactly the biggest event of the year. But a fiesta-like atmosphere awaits the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) delegation when it sets foot in Bacolod City next week for the annual All-Star Weekend.

ALTHOUGH it lost another one of its foundations, the Red Bull franchise remains unperturbed, especially because the architect of the Barakos’ success is still with the team.

Minimumweight crown holder Florante Condes will again face a challenger in an “against-all-odds” type of fight.

Anya Tanpinco, one of the country’s top lady amateurs today, is a little disappointed but maintained she isn’t angry over the decision of the Women’s Golf Association of the Philippines (WGAP) not to include her on the national team to the Asia-Pacific Invitational Golf Championship, better known as the Queen Sirikit Cup, in Japan next month.

HEART is an overused, abused and misused phrase in the world of sports. Many say that they have it, but some fail to exert it when the push comes to a shove in actual game time.