DRIAN FRANCISCO FACES MICHAEL DOMINGO ON SEP. 3

IF THINGS go as planned, the country will witness a blockbuster meeting between two gallant Filipino boxers who are skillful enough to become world champions someday.

Saved by the Bell Promotions president and Touch Gloves Boxing Gym owner Elmer Anuran told Philboxing.com that he is deep in negotiations with the famed ALA Boxing Promotions for a possible collision of the fists between battle-scarred Michael Domingo (41-15-2, 19 KOs) and SBB-pride and former WBA Interim super flyweight titleholder Drian 'Golden Fists' Francisco (20-1-1, 16 KOs).

"I am thankful for the well-known and highly-respected ALA Promotions headed by Michael Aldeguer for not closing the door on this bout which is certainly a must see for ring fans,"said Anuran, a sportsman-businessman from Agoncillo, Batangas.

Anuran said he is talking with ALA Promotions vice-president Dennis Ca?te to iron out kinks in the proposed bout on September 3. ALA is the country premier boxing promotions.

Though Domingo, a native of Sultan Kudarat, suffered from 15 losses in his colorful career, the ALA fighter is no pushover. Most of his setbacks happened when he was not yet under the ALA stable. Anuran said fighting Domingo is a real test for Francisco's bid for redemption.Tagged as heavy favorite, the native of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro lost by unanimous decision to Thai Tepparith Singwancha in his initial defense of the WBA interim crown last May in Petchaburi, Thailand.

It was Francisco first loss in 22 bouts. "Drian told me that he is fighting anybody. He is in a fight mode because he is determined to rise and regain the respect of the fight world," said Anuran. "Drian has already buried the nightmare of his last fight. We will see a deadlier Drian with the same never-say die attitude."

Anuran said Drian, who is deep in training at the Touch Gloves Boxing Gym in Agoncillo, Batangas, remains firm on his belief that we will be able to join the elite list of Filipino world titleholders someday. Anuran said this will be the first time that Drian will fight in the bantamweight division. After losing to Tepparith, Francisco hinted that he wanted to move up in weight.

"Drian's road to redemption will start against Domingo. This is huge test for him and we will see if the 'golden fists' are indeed golden," Anuran said.