WORLD RATED CEJA EYED AS NEXT OPPONENT FOR DRIAN FRANCISCO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 01 Oct 2012
Julio Ceja.
Following his impressive 1st round knockout win over Jose Carlos Vargas in Somora, Mexico on Sunday, former world title prospect, Filipino super bantamweight Drian Francisco is expected to break into the world rankings even as his manager/promoter Elmer Anuran eyes tougher opponents for the former WBO Oriental flyweight champion.
Anuran told the Manila Standard that Solar Sports had given Francisco one last chance and his convincing win over Vargas who was dropped three times before he was counted out resulted in Solar Sports CEO Peter Chanliong working to put Francisco in a title eliminator against Julio Ceja.
Anuran told us they are working to put Francisco on the undercard of the flyweight unification title fight between WBO champion Brian Viloria and WBA champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez scheduled for November 17 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, California.
Ceja who is ranked No. 3 bantamweight by the IBF is also ranked No. 7 by the WBA, No. 8 by the WBC and No. 13 by the WBO.
Ceja is an undefeated prospect and a knockout artist with a record of 18 knockouts in 19 wins with no defeats.
Francisco who lost in a WBA super flyweight interim title fight against Thailand?s Tepparith Kokietgym by a unanimous twelve round decision on May 1, 2011 has won back-to-back bouts with a unanimous ten round decision over former Oriental champion and world-ranked bantamweight Michael Domingo on September 23, 2011 followed by a 1st round knockout over Pichitchai Twins Gym of Thailand to grab the IBF Pan Pacific super bantam weight interim title last April 14.
Anuran told us Francisco will remain in the US and train at the Fortune Gym of former heavyweight and Freddie Roach partner Justin Fortune who at one time was Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao?s strength and conditioning coach.
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