Drian ‘Gintong Kamao’ (Golden Fist) Francisco will be headlining Solar Sports’ Battle at the Bay 3 on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City, Philippines against top ranked contender, Panamanian Ricardo Nunez.
Both came in at the 115 super flyweight limit during the weigh-ins Friday at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas.
The WBA No. 3 ranked super flyweight Francisco says he plans to step up the ‘awkwardness’ in his fighting style to keep his technically sound opponent off-balance.
That same awkwardness has Francisco being likened by some boxing experts to another former legend at boxing’s smaller weight classes. Philippine boxing correspondent Carlos Cinco told me, “His style is like (Prince Naseem) Hamed’s but more awkward- he’s crazy off balance a lot. He sometimes throws punches literally without looking (while looking in another direction, like the audience for example).”
Francisco has very good instincts and reflexes and falls in the mold of stylish boxers which aren’t common in the Philippine boxing circles.
His story is not that of the usual boxer’s tale either. Francisco graduated with a masters degree in Commerce majoring in Management at the San Sebastian University in Manila. At 27-years old, one can consider him a late bloomer as he has only a few years of experience underneath his belt. But despite his boxing experience being in its early stages, Francisco has already accomplished some and impressed many. He does have a ways to go, but thanks to his attitude, determination, coupled by that unorthodox fighting style he seems to have mastered plus his speed and punching power, this prospect might just be the one likely to ‘succeed’.
Other fights and weights (source: OfficialScoreCard.com) :
4 Rounds ? Light Flyweights Benezer Alolod 107 lbs, Giovanni Escaner 109 lbs
4 Rounds ? Minimumweights Michael Borja 104 lbs, Wilmar Fragata 105 lbs
8 Rounds ? Light Flyweights Lolito Sonsona* 109 lbs, Remuel Obidos 107 lbs
10 Rounds ? Featherweights Lloyd Francisco** 127 lbs, Leonardo Doronio 126.5 lbs
12 Rounds ? WBO Asia-Pacific Super Bantamweight Championship Nino Magboo 121 lbs, Rey Las Pinas 121 lbs
12 Rounds ? IBF Pan Pacific Lightweight Championship Al Sabaupan 135 lbs, Heri Andriyanto (Indonesia) 134 lbs
*Lolito Sonsona is Eden Sonsona?s brother and Marvin Sonsona?s cousin
**Lloyd Francisco is Drian Francisco?s brother
