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Philippines, 22 Jan 2026 |
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EXCLUSIVE: DRIAN ?GINTONG KAMAO? FRANCISCO BLOODIES SPAR MATE ON FIRST DAY OF SPARRING By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Thu, 18 Oct 2012  Drian ?Gintong Kamao? (The Golden Fist) Francisco started sparring in Los Angeles Wednesday under the guidance of trainer Justin Fortune. The 29 year old boxer from Mindoro is in the midst of training for his upcoming fight at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on November 17th. He will be a part of the undercard of fellow Filipino, Brian Viloria who squares off against Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez of Mexico. Francisco is reportedly facing another Mexican, in undefeated Julio Ceja. The fight between Francisco and Ceja is a scheduled IBF Bantamweight eliminator. ?Okay naman. Dapat nga six rounds lang yun sparring kanina, eh naging seven rounds na. Yung isa kasi four rounds, eh yung isa alanganin siya na mag two-two rounds lang kaya ginawang three.? (It?s okay. I am supposed to spar only six rounds but it became seven. I sparred four rounds with one guy and three with another.) Francisco said that he sparred with guys that weighed between 118 to 122 pounds at a boxing gym in Van Nuys. ?Mga undefeated sila, pero mga baguhan pa rin.? (They are undefeated and starting fighters.) described Francisco of his two sparring partners. The heavy handed Francisco who boasts of an impressive 18 knockouts out of his 23 wins narrated that Fortune told him to take it easy on his spar mates. ?Sabi ni Justin, huwag ko daw masyadong lakasan. Jab, jab lang. Kung gusto ko daw lakasan, jab at sa katawan lang at baka madala at hindi na kami labanan sa susunod.? (Justine told me not to hit hard. He just wanted me to use the jab.If I wanted to hit them hard, I should just jabbed and aim at the body for they might not spar with me anymore after getting hit.) Francisco told this Philboxing.com scribe laughingly. Fortune who is a Manny Pacquiao?s former conditioning coach and former assistant to famous trainer Freddie Roach emphasized on Francisco?s defense and mobility in the ring. They practiced on improving Francisco?s jabs during their sparring session yesterday. Francisco obeyed his trainer?s advice to just use his jabs but even with it, he bloodied the nose of one of his sparring partners in yesterday?s practice. ?Sabi ni Justin, jab lang gamitin mo diyan ha. Huwag kang susuntok ng straight diyan. Kung kukumbinasyon ka, sa katawan lang. E jinabbed ko ng jinabbed, e dumugo naman yung ilong.? (Justin told me to only use my jab and not use my straight. He told me that if I want to use my combinations, I should do it on his body. I jabbed and jabbed at my spar mate and he end up having a bloody nose.) narrated the 29 year old fighter. This will be Francisco?s first bout in the United States. He knocked out Mexican Juan Carlos Vargas in one round in Mexico less than three weeks ago. He came straight to Los Angeles after the bout and started training from then on for his upcoming U.S. debut. The boxer out of the Saved by the Bell Promotions and stable of Batangas, City informed Philboxing.com that he will spar again tomorrow, Friday against potentially a bigger spar mate. This time, Francisco hopes he can unleash a fraction of his power when he boxes a bigger guy. ?Gusto ko malaki, para medyo pwede kong lakasan.? (I wanted a bigger spar mate so I can hit him harder.) expressed Francisco. ?Malaki naman yun,kaya naman yun.? (He?s big, he probably can handle it.) he added with a chuckle. Hopefully he can. You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com. Photo: Drian Francisco (L) trains under Justin Fortune in Los Angeles. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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