Dethroned Indon bares rematch versus Condes

Two days after losing his International Boxing Federation mini-flyweight crown to Florante Condes, Indon Muhammad Rachman announced his plans for a rematch with the new Filipino champion in December.

“I will try to reclaim my title in a rematch this December,” Rachman told a press conference Monday in an interview with The Jakarta Post.

“I hope I can win and bring the belt back to Indonesia,” he said, promising to better prepare for the rematch.

Rachman’s manager Martinez Dos Santos confirmed that the Condes camp had agreed to the rematch.

“Promoter Fandy Juney Sugiarto has the option to hold the rematch. And we — including Condes — have signed a new contract to hold a rematch in Jakarta sometime in December,” Martinez said.

“Of course, this time, Condes will receive more money than Rachman, who will be the challenger.”

The 35-year-old Rachman lost his title to the 25-year-old Filipino in a split decision Saturday night in Jakarta.

The fight, initially scheduled for June 16, was postponed after original promoter Albert Reinhard Papilaya proved unable to fund the bout.

Facing a deadline for a mandatory title defense, Rachman then had to accept the $21,250 offered by promoter Fandy for the bout or be stripped of the belt.

“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.

“Rachman was knocked to canvas twice, in the third and 10th rounds, but the fact that he struggled to finish the entire 12 rounds, even though it cost him dearly with a cut over his eye, is worthy of appreciation,” said Irwan Hidayat, the president director of herbal medicine producer PT Sido Muncul. – Dante Navarro