FRANCISCO DEFENDS WBA INTERIM TITLE AS HE WAITS FOR INJURED CAZARES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Mar 2011
Rather than remain idle while waiting for the injured WBA super flyweight world champion Hugo ?El Increible? Cazares (34-6-2, 24 KO?s) to recover from his reported injury, Interim champion Drian ?The Golden Fist? Francisco (20-0-1, 16 KO?s) of the Philippines has decided to defend his title in Thailand on May 1.
Francisco?s manager Elmer Anuran told the Inquirer that he had accepted the offer from the well-known Kokiet Group for Francisco to defend the interim title against Pan Asian Boxing Association champion Tepparith Singwancha who has a record of 15-2 with 10 knockouts.
Anuran said that under his arrangement with the WBA, should Francisco win the fight against Tepparith the World Boxing Association will open the purse bid for the Canares title fight.
The youthful manager of Francisco said he plans to stage the fight in Manila in the latter part of June in a world title double-header with former WBC and IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria (28-3, 16 KO?s) taking on reigning WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda (35-5-1, 28 KO?s).
Meantime, Viloria?s manager Gary Gittelsohn said that he has had ?positive contact with Miranda?s camp and hope to work out details shortly.?
The 28 year old Francisco won the WBA interim 115 pound title with an 10th round TKO over Duangpetch Saengmorakot (Kokietgym) last November 30 after he dropped the Thai twice in round six and once in round ten prompting referee Steve Smoger who also deducted a point from Duangpetch in round six called a halt at 1:57 on round ten.
The 32 year old Cazares won the title in a rematch with Japan?s Nobuo Nashiro on May 8, 2010 after their first bout ended in a draw. The champion last defended his title on December 23, 2010 when he scored a comfortable twelve round decision over another Japanese, Hiroyuki Histaka.
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