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DETHRONED International Boxing Federation (IBF)
minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman of
Indonesia
is eyeing a rematch with Florante Condes this December
in Indonesia.
The
35-year-old Rachman announced the other day in a press
conference in Jakarta that his management team has
already reached an agreement with Condes’s manager Aljoe
Jaro about the return bout.
“I hope
I can win and bring the belt back to Indonesia. I will
try to reclaim my title in a rematch this December,”
said Rachman.
In the
same press conference, Rachman’s manager Martinez Dos
Santos claimed that their promoter Fandy Sugiarto holds
an option for a rematch and that they plan to exercise
that option.
“We have
signed a new contract with Condes to hold a rematch in
Jakarta some time in December,” Martinez said.
 Last
Saturday in
Jakarta,
Condes won the crown after scoring a split verdict in a
give-and-take bout. The newly crowned champion twice
floored Rachman in the third and 10th canto.
Condes,
27, was usually assertive in the first three rounds as
the backpedaling Rachman had a hard time adjusting to
the Filipinos on-rushing style.
A hard
straight left by the lefty Filipino floored Rachman in
the third round. Sensing that the crown was fast
slipping his head, Rachman started to move in and
exchange blows with Condes by the fourth round.
Rachman
did well from the fourth to the ninth rounds but again
visited the canvass in the 10th after getting hit by
left hook.
From
then on it was a nip-and-tuck affair in the last two
rounds.
Two
judges scored it 114-112 for Condes.
Branded
by experts as a smaller version of Filipino boxing
sensation Manny Pacquiao because of his vicious punching
power, Condes upped his mark to 22-3-1, with 21
knockouts while Rachman drops to 61-6-5, 31 knockouts.
Martinez,
however, claimed Rachman lost the crown because of the
postponements that happened over the last two months.
“The
uncertainty over the bout as well as the payment ruined
Rachman’s whole training program. He was distracted
ahead of the fight. That’s the main factor why he lost,”
Martinez
said.
Originally set for June 16, Condes’s challenge to
Rachman’s throne was postponed to June 30 as original
promoter Albert Papilaya alleged he had a hard time
getting sponsors and finalizing a deal with the
television coveror.
A purse
bid was conducted by the IBF last April 10 that was won
by US-based Seminole Warriors Boxing. Under the IBF
rules, the fight must take place within 90 days after
the bidding was held.
After
the twin postponements, the IBF warned the promoters of
Rachman about a possible stripping of the title if they
cannot defend the crown by July 10.
For his
valiant but losing effort to keep the crown, Rachman
received financial bonuses from well-known Indon
sportsmen that almost doubled his fight purse of
$21,000.
“I think
Rachman did his best in the fight. And if he wants a
rematch, of course, we will lend our support to him,”
said State Minister for Youth and Sports Affairs
Adhyaksa Dault.
Martinez
guaranteed that Condes will get a much bigger purse than
Rachman for the rematch.
Condes,
who flew in Monday night from Singapore, said he would
agree on a rematch only if the fight is held in Manila
“and if the price is right”.
“Of
course, I would like the fight held here to give a
chance to my fellow Filipinos to be able to view the
fight live,” Condes said.
Asked
whether he would buy expensive wheels, the way Manny
Pacquiao, his idol, has, Condes said, “Bibili muna
ako ng kabayo.”
--With Recto Mercene |
