By Anson Wainwright

While several of Luis Franco's Cuban cohorts have enjoyed success in the pro game, it's not been the same story for this ex-patriot.

Franco, 32, made his way to America in 2009 having encountered several issues in his homeland.

 

“There was a lot of problems, they took me out of the boxing (squad),” Franco told BoxingScene.com. “I had to start working a job in construction to maintain my family.”

 

Those problems stemmed from him looking to leave Cuba to go to America previously. Franco said he had been caught and thrown off the national team.

 

“I came over (from Cuba) in a boat (to America),” he said. "I came by myself to this country (USA), I didn't know how it was going to be.”

 

Since turning professional things haven’t gone exactly how Franco would have hoped. While former Olympic team mates like Yuriorkis Gamboa and Guillermo Rigondeaux have enjoyed the fruits of their labour, winning world titles, six and seven figure purses Franco has been rather inactive.

 

In a five-year pro career the now Florida resident has fought just 13 times. Of late the well as run particularly dry, appearing once in 2012, a robbery against Javier Munoz in Argentina (his lone pro loss) and once last year when he faced Fortuna.

 

Unsurprisingly Franco believes he won both.

 

“That was an experience in professional boxing,” Franco said of his fight against Munoz. “I'm going to prepare myself better this time so I don't have any loses but I think I won that fight.

 

“With Javier Fortuna, I know I definitely won that fight but that Fortuna was the favorite for a lot of people and for the TV.”

 

Franco has been inactive for a year now since the draw with Fortuna. When asked if the experience of watching some of his fellow Cubans enjoy success had been frustrating Franco answered in the affirmative.

 

“Definitely, and how they have become and moved up and up (their respective divisions) and if it wasn't for the problems I've had I think I would have been there (too).

 

His manager Robert Goldwasser feels for his fighter who on September 2nd declared himself bankrupt.

 

"He got shelved by Gary Shaw and my ex-partner Henry Foster who was with Bad Dog Promotions when they were the promoters," Goldwasser exclusively told BoxingScene.com. "He hated them and visa versa.

 

"When the whole mess happened first with Bad Dog, Shaw took a fight in Argentina (Munoz) and then Franco backed out of the (Billy) Dib fight, there was so much bad blood no one would touch him. Shaw gave Sampson Lewcowicz one fight to let him fight Fortuna but that was it.

 

"He sat around and the only way out was to claim personal bankrupcy to get out of the contracts of course I had to pay for the lawyer, court fees etc. This was done June 30th, 2014, and they have 8 weeks to challenge, which they won't."

Thankfully salvation could be nearby according to Goldwasser.

"The plan is to get him with Warriors after August 31st ," said Goldwasser. "Franco is a little tepid about signing for fear of being shelved but he has no choice.

 

"He put me in touch with Rubio his trainer who Luis said he had fights for him. I spoke to Rubio and the fights he had were where I pay for. That's not happening!! He signed back with me so it's Warriors who says if he looks real good, they could bring him to (Al) Haymon (Godwasser's other client Rances Barthelemy signed with Haymon over the summer). I will hold my breath (laughs)."

 

For Franco, he’s just grateful for the opportunity to get back doing what he does best.

 

"I'm training hard with Jorge Rubio and I'm real hungry to fight and show who I am, you guys are going to see different moves and a different boxing skills and hitting harder."

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright