Don't blame Sammy

Cebu promoter Sammy Gello-ani was chastised by “certain quarters” for “abandoning” former IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes two days before his fight against Nkosinathi “Mabere” Joyi in South Africa last Friday and even the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) has been jerked to call for an investigation on the alleged desertion.

Gello-ani was in Manila yesterday to hand over what remained of the purse to Condes whose manager is Puerto Rican Dante Ortiz. The fighter’s total take-home amounted to only $6,533, net of deductions. What a pittance compared to the piles that Filipino fighters earn in Las Vegas shows.

Since “certain quarters” managed to convince the GAB to turn over Condes’ contract from Aljoe Jaro to Ortiz in a settlement of a dispute, the fighter has never been the same. Condes, nicknamed “Little Pacquiao,” made headlines by wresting the IBF 105-pound crown from Muhammad Rachman via a split decision aided by two knockdowns in Jakarta in 2007. Then, Jaro was taken out of the picture and Condes’ career went downhill.

Gello-ani said he was requested by Ortiz to arrange fights for Condes. You wonder why anyone wants to be a manager if he has neither the ability nor the reputation to arrange fights – unless all he’s after is a joyride to the bank.

At first, Gello-ani wasn’t sure to travel with Condes to South Africa but when trainer Joven Jimenez couldn’t get a visa, the promoter decided to come along. Besides, Condes said he wouldn’t fly without Gello-ani since Jimenez couldn’t go. Ortiz flew to South Africa directly from the US.

“My job is to create opportunities for fighters,” said Gello-ani. “I’m not a trainer or a cutman. I couldn’t stay for Condes’ fight because I had arranged another fight for Fernando Lumacad in Atlantic City the next night.”

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Gello-ani stayed four days in South Africa then flew back to Manila, took a connecting flight to Hong Kong and landed in New York via Vancouver to hook up with Lumacad.

“I had a ticket for Joven but unfortunately, he couldn’t leave without a visa,” said Gello-ani. “I asked Condes if he would like Dodong Donaire to join him instead. Dodong holds a US passport so he doesn’t need a visa for South Africa. But Condes didn’t like the idea because he had never worked with Dodong before.”

Gello-ani said he was transparent about his travel plans from the start and never led on Condes and Ortiz.

“Dante was in Condes’ corner,” said Gello-ani. “He is an experienced trainer and cutman who has handled two former world champions. I know Condes isn’t fluent in English. Not too many Filipino fighters are. But I don’t think Condes lost because he couldn’t understand Dante’s instructions. Condes lost to a better man. Joyi was just too good. His trainer Nick Durandt is excellent and has produced several world champions.”

Before leaving for South Africa, Gello-ani gave Condes a $1,000 advance from Ortiz. Condes’ aunt specifically asked that no cash be given to the fighter abroad. Ortiz later wired the balance to Gello-ani’s bank account. The purse is now fully paid.

Gello-ani said despite Condes losing a lopsided decision to Joyi, his career hasn’t careened to a halt.

“I just spoke with Condes and he asked me if I could arrange more fights,” said Gello-ani. “I know he has a lot of family issues. I hope he resolves them first.”

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As for Lumacad, Gello-ani said he was overwhelmed in his US debut against former world champion Jorge Arce.

“The fight was initially in Juarez on June 20 then it was moved to Tijuana but when the Montiel-Morel bout was cancelled, the Lumacad-Arce fight went to Atlantic City in the pay-per-view undercard,” said Gello-ani.  

Lumacad made a fight of it in the first two rounds then got caught with a right hook to the jaw in the third. It didn’t seem like a particularly powerful punch but Lumacad stayed down for the full count, prompting promoter Bob Arum to call him a quitter. After the bout, a wide-eyed Lumacad asked Arce for his autograph and fighting robe. The Mexican graciously obliged.

“Lumacad told me he was groggy and that’s why he decided to just take the count,” said Gello-ani. “Before the fight, I talked to him. I knew there was a lot of pressure because of the big-time atmosphere. It’s not like fighting in Thailand. Lumacad assured me he was in tip-top condition, that he would do his best.”

Gello-ani said Arce’s promoter Fernando Beltran liked what he saw in Lumacad in the early going.

“I think Arce got angry when he was cut and that’s when he decided to try to end it,” said Gello-ani. “I don’t know if Lumacad got scared when Arce started to load up. As I’ve told the fighters I help, it’s their job to fight. I’ll give them the opportunity but they’ve got to show they deserve to be contenders.”

Gello-ani explained he felt more of an obligation to stay with Lumacad in Atlantic City than Condes in South Africa because it was his US debut. Lumacad’s manager Ken Smith of Seattle said in future fights, he’d like his boys from the American Boxing Academy stable to train in Cebu instead of Digos where the sparring isn’t as competitive.