Drian Francisco returns to bantamweight to face Apolinario

Ryan Songalia

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Drian Francisco returns to bantamweight to face Apolinario
Seeking a second run at a world title, Drian Francisco says he’s stepping down to 118 pounds for his next fight against former title challenger John Mark Apolinario

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – Seeking a second run at a world title, Drian Francisco says he’s stepping down to 118 pounds for his next fight against former title challenger John Mark Apolinario on November 8 in Davao City.

Francisco (25-2-1, 20 knockouts) of Mindoro Occidental, Philippines had campaigned at junior featherweight after losing his interim WBA junior bantamweight title in 2011. He relocated to Los Angeles with trainer Justin Fortune in 2012, winning two fights before losing a decision to Chris Avalos in July of 2013.

Francisco returned with a win in August after 13 months off and is hoping to be back in a world title fight within 3 fights.

“Everyone I fought at 118, I knocked them all out,” said Francisco, who turned pro in 2005. “I think, especially when you go to the States, 122 is much bigger than me. That’s why me and my camp, we decided to stay at 118. If time comes where there’s a championship fight at 122, I’ll just go to 122.”

Francisco has been training alongside 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao in General Santos City, sparring with domestic contenders Daryl Basadre and Aston Palicte at the Pacman Wild Card Gym.

(RELATED: A happy Manny Pacquiao is a dangerous fighter)

Fortune, who works as Pacquiao’s conditioning coach, agrees that bantamweight is a more comfortable division for the 31-year-old.

“At 122 he’s not big enough,” says Fortune. “When you fight 122, they’ll come to fight night at 128, 130. He maxes out at 126. At 118, he’s very strong and he’s slick.”

Apolinario (17-4-3, 4 KOs) of Maasim, Sarangani, Philippines is no stranger to fighting world champions. The 24-year-old has fought three times for a world title, traveling to Argentina and Panama in two draws with Roberto Vasquez for the interim WBA bantamweight title before losing a decision to champion Koki Kameda in Japan. 

Apolinario has also faced former WBA flyweight titleholder Hernan Marquez, losing a decision to him in Mexico this past April.

“I didn’t want him to go with an easy fight because easy fights don’t do anything for your fighter,” says Fortune. “At this stage in his career he doesn’t need to be built with easy fighters. He needs tough fights that are going to test him and push him. If it’s a walkover, they don’t train hard enough.”

OFW boxer

Francisco says he misses living in the Philippines, having left his family behind in the province to maximize the rest of his boxing career.

“If you’re alone in the U.S. it’s hard,” says Francisco.

“I like living in the Philippines. I’m happy here, I can focus on training. But in America, I’m just focusing on training but I don’t have friends.”

Fortune says that the experience has helped him improve as a boxer and feels aligning with a promoter – he mentions Pacquiao’s MP Promotions – could get Francisco the fights he needs to advance.

“He’s experienced what it’s like to fight in the States, spar with those guys,” says Fortune. “There’s a different sort of training. More strength and conditioning, more body shots, more head movement.

“Two more good wins then he’ll be ready for a title shot.” – Rappler.com

Ryan Songalia

 

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.

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