Home 
IBF miniflyweight champion Florante “The Little Pacquiao” Condes will defend his title for the first time today against outstanding challenger Raul Garcia at the 8,000-capacity Estadio Arturo C. Nahl in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Despite a protracted power struggle among his handlers, Condes goes into the fight in what he described as “the best conditioning” he has in a long time, following training stints at the ALA Gym in Cebu and the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
The Romblon-raised fighter dethroned Indonesia's Muhammad Rachman last year with a twelve-round split decision using superb pressure fighting skills which allowed him to knock Rachman down twice during the fight.
Odds will be stacked against Condes (22-3-1, 20 KO's), however, as Garcia (22-0-1, 15 KO's) will enjoy the hometown advantage behind avid Mexican fans, and the long lay-off of 11 months may take its toll against the Filipino.
Both Condes and Garcia came in at 104 lbs, 1 lb below the minimumweight limit of 105 lbs, at the weigh-in held yesterday at the Araiza Palmira Hotel in Las Paz.
The weigh-in was supervised by IBF championship committee chairman Lindsay Tucker, who will also supervise the fight.
A full house is expected today because of the high level of interest this fight has been getting in Mexico, fanned no less by the exploits of ring icon Manny Pacquiao over his Mexican counterparts.
Condes will be wearing a red-black trunk with fire in the background for today's fight while Garcia will don the Mexican colors of red, white and green.
Both Condes and Garcia will be wearing the Cleto Reyes gloves, acknowledged as the 'punchers' gloves' which would conceivably give the Filipino world champion the edge.
