No title shot for Drian after all

Expectations were high that Drian (Gintong Kamao) Francisco would fight for a world title before the year ends and there was a feverish effort to seal a deal to challenge WBA superbantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba in the undercard of the Nonito Donaire-Jorge Arce mainer at the Toyota Center in Houston on Dec. 15.

But in the end, Rigondeaux’ camp decided to choose Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaeng-Gym, a 31-year-old veteran whose last three victims were Filipinos Danilo Peña, Dondon Jimenea and Jilo Merlin. Poonsawat has fought only thrice outside of Thailand, winning once in Japan and once in Ireland, in compiling a 48-2 record, with 33 KOs. It will be his US debut.

Francisco was initially slated to perform in the undercard of the Brian Viloria-Hernan (Tyson) Marquez mainer at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles this Saturday. But when the opportunity to battle Rigondeaux came up, Francisco’s manager Elmer Anuran said to go for it. There was an 80 percent chance of finalizing the deal, noted Anuran, and Francisco tapered off his training which would’ve peaked in time for the Saturday outing. In fact, Francisco’s trainer Justin Fortune, the former Australian heavyweight contender who used to be Freddie Roach’s conditioning guru at the Wild Card Gym, gave him four days off because he would’ve peaked too soon for the Rigondeaux bout.

Then came the bombshell. Anuran said the undefeated Rigondeaux didn’t want to risk a fight against the hard-hitting Francisco whose record is 23-1-1 with 18 KOs.

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“When we heard it was 80 percent sure, Justin gave Drian four days to rest because he was going full blast to prepare for the Nov. 17 fight,” said Anuran. “He would’ve started a new set of conditioning and training applicable for Dec. 15. Rigondeaux refused to fight Drian after a thorough review. They opted to reconsider Poonsawat who was the original opponent anyway. His handlers believe there’s a higher risk fighting Drian. When we were told the fight is back on Nov. 17, I called up Justin to ask if Drian could be ready since he already stopped training.”

Anuran said Fortune suggested for the Nov. 17 fight to be at 122 pounds, not 118, since it was too late for Francisco to bring down his weight. So, Zander Promotions of Mexico found an opponent for Francisco willing to battle at the superbantamweight limit – Tijuana’s Javier Gallo. Anuran and trainer Benny de la Peña will fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday to hook up with Francisco. De la Peña will work Francisco’s corner with Fortune and cutman Dr. Ed de la Vega for the Gallo bout.

Gallo, 29 like Francisco, has an 18-5-1 record, with 10 KOs. He’s coming off a loss on points to David Quijano in Puerto Rico last January. He has dropped three of his last five, including a majority 10-round decision to Filipino Rodel Mayol in Las Vegas. Gallo put up a courageous stand against Mayol and judge C. J. Ross scored it even, 95-all. Gallo’s last win was a third round knockout over Jason Rorie in Woodland Hills, California, in September a year ago. A survivor, Gallo came off the canvas in the last round to eke out a split eight-round decision over Jose Luis Araiza in March last year.

Gallo is physically more imposing than Francisco and it’s something that the Filipino will keep in mind. Gallo has a six-inch advantage in reach and is 2 1/2 inches taller. But Francisco isn’t fazed. As the adage goes, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Besides, Francisco has been tested against quality opponents like reigning WBA superflyweight champion Tepparith Kokiet-Gym, Filipino veteran Michael Domingo and Panamanian hotshots Roberto Vasquez and Ricardo Nuñez while Gallo has feasted on patsies. The experience factor is definitely an advantage for Francisco even if he has logged only one more fight than Gallo.

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Anuran said depending on the outcome of Saturday’s fight, he will sit down with Zander’s Fernando Beltran to discuss Francisco’s future. “I’ll find out if they have a better plan,” he said. “One thing’s for sure, we’ll try our best to get a title shot for Drian, whether through Zander or our Saved By the Bell Promotions.”

Anuran said if Zander isn’t able to confirm a title crack, he’ll negotiate a fight against newly crowned WBO bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand. Pungluang created a sensation when he stopped Filipino A. J. Banal in the ninth round to capture the vacant WBO 118-pound title at the MOA Arena recently. Anuran said he’ll move heaven and earth to convince Pungluang to stake his crown against Francisco in Manila.

Francisco has been away from home since leaving a week before engaging Jose Carlos Vargas in Sonora, Mexico, last Sept. 29. Anuran arranged for Francisco to stay with friends and relatives from Batangas to keep him from getting homesick in Los Angeles.

Fortune said Francisco has been diligent and devastating in the gym. “He’s ripe for a world title shot,” said Anuran who’s the first nominee with the COMELEC-accredited ALAEH (Association of Local Athletics, Entrepreneurs and Hobbyists) party list seeking a seat in Congress in next year’s polls.