WHAT a great weekend indeed for Filipinos, particularly boxing fans!
From out of nowhere, two underdogs have been crowned world boxing champs.
Here’s an excerpt from the Philippine Daily Inquirer story, which includes a report from Inquirer contributor Salven L. Lagumbay and Inquirer wires:
Florante Condes showed tremendous fighting heart in flooring champion Muhammad Rachman twice en route to snatching the International Boxing Federation mini-flyweight (105-lb) crown via a split decision on Saturday night in the studio of the private RCTI television station in Jakarta.
In Bridgeport, Connecticut, unheralded Filipino-American Nonito Donaire knocked out the previously undefeated IBF and International Boxing Organization flyweight champion, Vic Darchinyan, in the fifth round of their scheduled 12-rounder.
Condes and Donaire thus became the only reigning Philippine-born world champions at present. Condes hails from Romblon province, while Donaire came from General Santos City.
Although he is the world’s most feared super featherweight, national boxing hero Manny Pacquiao holds only the belt of the lesser World Boxing Council (WBC) International, which groups fighters ranked outside the division’s top 10.
July 9th, 2007 at 11:38 pm
hey, hey wait, hold on to your horses. These two fella may be wearing legitimate championship belts, but their true worth as a champion can only be measured by their first title defense. We don’t need “flash in the pan champions”. Remember Morris East or Roberto Cruz, who failed in their first title defense.
July 9th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado: Suddenly, Filipinos have 2 world boxing champs [...]
July 9th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
yeheey proud to be pinoy !
visit my sports blog at
http://www.sport-couch.blogspot.com
July 9th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Congrats to Condes and Donaire. Another thing that makes me proud to be a filipino. Kaming mga pinoy na naman ang bida dto sa local pub sa Sydney, hehehehehehehe, anraming mag aalok ng free beer sa amin pag boxing night at malaman na pinoy kami, bilib sila sa mga pinoy sa boxing at sa galing maki sama at jam
July 9th, 2007 at 9:54 am
congratulations to nonito for knocking out over confident and over yabang darchinyan!