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Philippines, 21 Nov 2025 |
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Drian ?The Golden Fist? Francisco continues training against his TBA opponent By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Mon, 05 Nov 2012  With less than two weeks before he steps in a squared ring in Los Angeles, Drian ?Gintong Kamao? (The Golden Fist) Francisco is accelerating his training in preparation for that fight. But there remains a problem, a big one! The 29 year old fighter does not have an opponent yet in a fight scheduled for November 17th at the L.A. Sports Arena. Francisco is slated to fight an IBF eliminator in the undercard of fellow Filipino fighter, Brian Viloria who will try to unify the flyweight belts against Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez of Mexico. But Francisco is not letting that deter him as he continues to train with gusto under trainer, Justin Fortune. ?Handa naman ako sa laban. Maganda ang ensayo namin ni Justin. Nageensayo kami ng mabuti. Lahat ng pwede makalaban, nakaka-sparring namin.? (I am ready for the fight. My training with Justin is going well. We spar with anyone who is available to spar with.) Francisco said. The trainer and boxer duo prepare for both an orthodox and southpaw opponent by sparring with fighters who are right and left handed in the gym. ?Kaliwa atsaka kanan, nakaka-sparring namin. Maliit o malaki, nakaka-sparring namin.? (We spar with left and right handed fighters, big and small, we spar with them.) the boxer from Mindoro relates. Francisco spars with his trainer?s fighters as well as other fighters from other gyms in Los Angeles during this camp. He wished he knew who his opponent is already so he and Fortune can review tapes of their prospective opponent but is nevertheless ready for whoever it may be. ?Wala naman akong kaba. Kakabahan ka sa boxing kung wala kang ensayo. Okay lang kung wala pang kalaban, ang mahirap diyan kung wala ka pang ensayo. Yun ang kakabahan ka.? (I am not nervous. You should be nervous in boxing if you did not train. It is okay if there is no opponent yet, not training is the problem. That is when you should worry.) explained Francisco who holds a Bachelors degree in Commerce from San Sebastian College in Mindoro. Francisco states that he will be ready for anyone come fight night. He will face anyone in the 118 pound division and is even ready to go one class up, which is the talent laden Super Bantam division if needed. ?Siguro hanggang 122 lang. Kung 126, medyo, parang malaki na yun eh.? (Maybe up to 122 pounds only. 126 is a bit high for me.) said Francisco. ?118 sana kung meron, kung may slot. Pero kung walang slot, 122 ay okay na rin sa akin. Kung baga, nakapaglaro naman ako sa 122 eh, kaya okay na sa akin.? (I hope it is at 118, if there is a slot. But if none, I am okay with 122. I have fought as a 122 fighter so that will be fine.) Francisco said. But Francisco hopes that his TBA (To Be Announced) opponent will have a face and a name soon. A face and a name that he actually can focus on as his fight draws near. ?Sana ma-identify na at masabi na nila kung sino ang kalaban ko talaga para may tsansa naman kami na mapaghandaan. Mahirap naman na bigla-bigla na lang. Maganda din naman na nakapaghanda ka rin.? (I hope that they identify and tell us who my opponent is, so we?ll have a chance to prepare. It is really hard if they come up with one in the last minute.) acknowledged the boxer who knocked out 18 of his 23 past opponents. And as his November 17th fight comes close, Drian Francisco will try not worry about other things. He knows that he is here in the States to train and improve his craft. The routine will continue for this brand new Angelino. He will be seen jogging the streets of L.A. at dawn and will troop back and forth aboard the Number 212 bus en route to his trainer. The Golden Fist of Mindoro will get ready against any opponent in the ring, even against a faceless one! You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com for any reactions to this piece. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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