LONSDALE OF LONDON SPONSORS FLORES, FRANCISCO
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Jul 2007
Lonsdale execs at Tuesday's presscon.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES -- WORLD BOXING ORGANIZATION (WBO) Inter-Continental light flyweight champion Rexon Flores (17-3, 9 KOs) and WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Drian Francisco (12-0, 9 KOs) will be the first Asian fighters to use a clothing and boxing equipments that have been worn by many famous boxing champions.
Lonsdale, clothing and boxing equipments company founded in London, England in 1960, has assured two of the country's prospects to have their support in their bid to defend their respective crowns and then become the country's next world champions.
Flores, known as "Pison" and Francisco, nicknamed "Little Espinosa", will put their titles on the line against Thai challengers from the famous Bangkok-based Kokiet Boxing Stable on Aug. 4 at Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Paranaque City.
The country's top boxing promoter and president of Elorde International Production, Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde Jr. and Lonsdale's Managing Director Sasi Kumar Pillai and regional business manager Ben Gardener, who came all the way from London, signed a tie up contract along with Flores and Francisco in a press conference Tuesday at Elorde Boxing Gym at Anson's Auto Center in Arnaiz Avenue, Makati City.
"Malaking tulong ang Lonsdale sa pangarap naming maging world champion," said Francisco, now rated No. 5 by the WBO.
"First time namin na magkakaroon ng sponsor ng mula sapatos, fighting trunks hanggang gloves kaya motivation namin ito para mas pagbutihing masiguro ang panalo," said Flores, who is ranked No. 2.
Lonsdale articles have been worn by many famous boxers, including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Henry Cooper and Lennox Lewis. And Flores and Francisco will be the first Asian fighters to be outfitted by Lonsdale.
If victorious, Flores wants to fight WBO flyweight champ Hugo Cazares of Mexico while Francisco eyes WBO flyweight champ Omar Narvaez of Argentina. Their world title fights may be set before the end of the year.
The company is named after Hugh Cecil Lowther, fifth Earl of Lonsdale, who organised boxing matches in 1909 and who was president of the National Sporting Club of Britain.
After the contract signing before selected mediamen and television network, Flores and Francisco displayed their prowess in separate two-round sparring sessions against separate partners, Keward Minoza and Sylvester Lopez. Flores and Francisco said they are 90 percent ready for the bouts and will be at their peak prior to the separate 12-round title defenses.
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