By Rey Danseco

FILIPINO prospect Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco promised to make a rigid preparation for what he considers to be his toughest fight on Sept. 26 at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Francisco works out under his second pro-boxing trainer Benny dela Pena at the Touch Gloves Boxing Gym in Agoncillo, Batangas - where he stays in an apartment that his handler and promoter Elmer Anuran provides for him.

“You know what, I feel good when I learned that I’m going to fight a former two-time world champion,” said Francisco in an exclusive interview after the official announcement of his fight yesterday at the Tiara Oriental Hotel in Makati City. “This is a great opportunity and after I watched his two big fights (against Takefumi Sakata), I told to my manager ’I can beat this guy’.”

26-year old alumnus of San Sebastian College in Occidental Mindoro where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce, revealed that he can knock Vasquez out with left hook within six rounds.

“I know what I will do even at this point. He puts his guard down (right hand) every time he throws his left (from southpaw stance),” said Francisco, who is ranked two places higher at No. 5 compare to Vasquez at No. 7.

“That’s why we work on my left hook. It will be the key to our victory, a counter left to the right side of his jaw. His style is tailor-made for mine and I like those guys who keep on coming in because they help me to land (easily). But if he opt to box or move side to side and backwards, I know I’m faster and I can catch him wherever he hides.”

At stake in the scheduled 12 round contest dubbed “Banal na Paghihiganti: Philippines vs Panama”, will be for the WBA International super flyweight title.

The fight was originally slated for July 26 and postponed to Sept. 6, supposedly both against Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion also of Panama.

Concepcion opted to breached his contract to Anuran’s Touch Gloves Promotions when Las Vegas-based Top Rank, Inc offered him a chance to regain his WBA interim super flyweight title in a fight against former IBF-IBO flyweight king Nonito Donaire Jr. next month in Las Vegas.

Anuran admitted that he let Concepcion fight, although he initially thought about filing a case in court to ask for damages, but he had consideration that the Panamanian will fight his countryman, Donaire.    

Francisco and Vasquez are coming off in contrasting fates.

The eldest son of a fireman in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro stopped Indonesian Sharil Fabanyo with a single left hook to the ribcage in the second round last April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum to improve his ledger to 17-0-1 with 13 knockouts.

Vasquez (30-6-1, 22 KOs) faltered against WBA No. 1 contender Hugo Fidel Cazares with a unanimous decision over 11 rounds for the WBA Fedelatin super flyweight title last March 24 before his hometown fans in Panama City.