Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Chris "The Hitman" Avalos Ready for Drian Francisco on ESPN Friday Night Fights

By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 09 Jul 2013



Super bantamweight rising star Chris "Hitman" Avalos (21-2, 16 KOs) of Lancaster, California, is set to battle tough Filipino Drian Francisco (24-1-1, 19 KOs) in the 10-rounder non-title main event of this Friday's "ESPN Friday Night Fights" at Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, where the young Mexican-American should be the crowd favorite.

Seven years younger than his opponent, the 23 year-old Chris Avalos has been preparing since May under the guidance of his father and trainer Felipe Avalos with valuable training out at the popular Oxnard Gym of Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia.

Instructions from the talented trainer Robert Garcia have been extremely useful to the world-rated Chris Avalos, as well as his sparring sessions with Russian IBF Featherweight World Champion Evgeny Gradovich (16-0, 8 KOs).

The promising "Hitman" Avalos, currently rated WBO #5 WBA #11, aims at scoring an exciting win for the large ESPN audience to advance his standing in the talent-rich 122 pound division, the competitive weight class where the unified WBO/WBA king is Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs).

Top photo: Chris Avalos (R) poses with trainer Robert Garcia.


Chris Avalos.


FNF Avalos-Francisco ticker.

Likewise, Drian Francisco, who has been somewhat bothered by a contractual disagreement related to his split from his former promoter, needs a huge victory to reassert relevance in the super bantamweight division and improve his position in the world ranking.

The 30 year-old Francisco - currently WBA #9, IBF #9, WBO # 9 - has been training at Fortune Gym, a 1950's style boxing gym in the heart of Hollywood run by former Australian heavyweight fighter Justin Fortune.

In the exciting co-main event, "The Jersey Boy" Glen Tapia (18-0, 10 KOs) of Passaic, NJ and tough 28-year-old Abraham (19-0, 12 KOs) of El Paso, Texas, will exchange huge bombs in a 10-rounder non title jr. middleweight clash.

The fight event at Texas Station Casino is a promotion of Top Rank aired live on ESPN 2 on Friday at 10pm ET in the United States (Saturday July 13 at 10am in the Philippines).


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Emirates NBA Cup Updates: Warriors Only Team With Clear Path to KO Round
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Taduran defense in limbo
    By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Nisa Rodriguez to return to ring Dec. 17th on “Holiday Fight Night 3” at Sony Hall in Times Square
    Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • Lopez-Ataev main event leads international spectacular at IBA Champions’ Night Dubai
    Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • WORLD NINEBALL TOUR ANNOUNCES THREE RANKING EVENTS TO CONCLUDE 2024
    Tue, 26 Nov 2024
  • HIGHLY COVETED TEAM GB OLYMPIAN PAT BROWN SIGNS WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • NM Inigo rules Philippine Batang Pinoy Blitz chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • SPORTS SHORTS 285: AMIR KHAN ACCEPTS OFFER FOR AN EXHIBITION MATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • FOGOUM, TOSHIHIKO, KIM, RATTAWUT, RUF, CHUTINAN IN ACTION IN HIGHLAND’S EXCITING “SHOWDOWN” NOV 28 AT SPACEPLUS IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Gil Robiego Co Elected New APPBRO President for 2025-2027
    By Carlos Costa, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Garma wins, climbs to 8th place
    By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Davao futsal scores 1st win
    By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 25 Nov 2024
  • Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is the new FIDE World Senior 65 over category Rapid Champion
    Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • Thunderdome 48 - Jude Grant vs Fano Kori
    Sun, 24 Nov 2024
  • World Boxing backs plan to create a new Confederation in Asia
    Sun, 24 Nov 2024