Drian Francisco
Encyclopedia
Adrian Francisco more commonly known as Drian Francisco, is a Filipino
professional boxer
. Born in the province of Mindoro, Francisco currently resides in Agoncillo, Batangas
. His younger brother Lloyd Francisco, like him, is also a professional boxer.
.
.
He won the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title by a 7th round TKO win over Pichitchok Singmanassak on December 30, 2006. On August 4, 2007, he defended it by stopping Wanmeechok Singwancha in one round.
After a year of inactivity, he was back in the ring on April 19, 2009 where he scored a TKO win over Sharil Fabanyo. This was held at the Araneta Coliseum
and was undercard of the Nonito Donaire
- Raul Martinez
match.
Francisco won the WBA International super flyweight title on October 3, 2009 by stopping former WBA flyweight champion Roberto Vasquez
in 10 rounds.
He fought Ricardo Nunez in a WBA super flyweight eliminator on April 17, 2010, at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City
, Metro Manila
, Philippines. A few days before the bout, Francisco said that a win against Nunez was the key for a title shot. The Filipino boxer won the bout with an impressive knockout win at the 5th round. Francisco dominated the bout from the very start and was able to knock down Nunez twice in the opening round. Nunez survived the count and tried to defend himself and box his foe in the second and third round, connecting with some solid shot to stem Francisco's aggressive style. The boxer from Panama
continued on this way in the next round but was once again put in trouble and eventually knocked down twice in the 5th, after being hammered with solid combinations. Referee Bruce McTavish stopped the bout after the second knockdown.
He fought Duangpetch Kokietgym on November 30, 2010 in Nong Khai, Thailand
for the WBA interim superflyweight title. He won the bout with an impressive 10th round knockout.
It was a tough fight for Drian as Kokietgym repeatedly landed low blows. But in the end, Drian Francisco was able to overcome and knockout Kokietgym for the victory and WBA Interim Superflyweight Championship crown. The Thai fighter was down and out for only the second time in 54 fights.
Drian Francisco will most likely fight the winner of the Dec. 23 fight between WBA superflyweight champion Hugo Cazares
and Japanese challenger Hiroyuki Hisataka. The winner of that fight will be mandated to stake the crown against Francisco on March 9. Cazares, 32, is traveling to Osaka
to face Hisataka in his third title defense.
On 1 May 2011 Drian Francisco defensed his WBA interim World Super Flyweight title to Thai boxer Tepparith Singwancha
at Thailand. Francisco was knocked down in the third round. At the end Francisco lost WBA interim World Super Flyweight title for
Thai boxer in Unanimous decision 113-114,113-114,111-117
Drian admitted he was overconfident, he vowed to bounce back from the shock loss on points to Terrapith Singwancha and said he won’t make the same mistake again. Drian fought against Michael Domingo which he won in a unanimous decision in Makati Coliseum
on September 23, 2011. All three judges saw the fight in favor of the Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental native Francisco (21-1-1, 16 knockouts)—96-93, 95-94 and 96-93.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
professional boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Born in the province of Mindoro, Francisco currently resides in Agoncillo, Batangas
Batangas
Batangas is a first class province of the Philippines located on the southwestern part of Luzon in the CALABARZON region. Its capital is Batangas City and it is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and Laguna to the north and Quezon to the east. Across the Verde Island Passages to the south is the...
. His younger brother Lloyd Francisco, like him, is also a professional boxer.
Fighting style
Francisco is known for his powerful punches and aggressive style. His style was formerly compared to that of Luisito EspinosaLuisito Espinosa
Luisito Pio Espinosa is a retired boxer from the Philippines who won World titles in two different weight divisions....
.
Professional career
Francisco's father, Joe, was a former pro who is now a fireman. Early in his professional career, he was trained by former world flyweight titlist Erbito SalavarriaErbito Salavarria
Erbito Salavarria is a retired professional boxer from the Philippines. He's also a former WBA and WBC flyweight champion.- Biography :Salavarria made his professional debut in 1963. He captured the WBC flyweight title with a TKO win over Chartchai Chionoi in 1970...
.
He won the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title by a 7th round TKO win over Pichitchok Singmanassak on December 30, 2006. On August 4, 2007, he defended it by stopping Wanmeechok Singwancha in one round.
After a year of inactivity, he was back in the ring on April 19, 2009 where he scored a TKO win over Sharil Fabanyo. This was held at the Araneta Coliseum
Araneta Coliseum
The Smart Araneta Coliseum, known as The Big Dome is an indoor multi-purpose sports arena located in the Cubao area of Quezon City, Philippines...
and was undercard of the Nonito Donaire
Nonito Donaire
Nonito Donaire, Jr. is a Filipino-American professional boxer, who is widely known as "The Filipino Flash." He is a three-division world champion, having won five titles across three different boxing weight classes. He is a known switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox...
- Raul Martinez
Raúl Martínez (boxer)
Raúl Martínez is a Mexican-American professional boxer in the Super Flyweight division.-IBF Super Flyweight Championship:Martínez will fight Rodrigo Guerrero for the vacant IBF Super Flyweight Championship....
match.
Francisco won the WBA International super flyweight title on October 3, 2009 by stopping former WBA flyweight champion Roberto Vasquez
Roberto Vásquez
Roberto Vásquez is a southpaw boxer. Fighting in the flyweight division, his record is 24-1 . He is currently the WBA world flyweight interim champion....
in 10 rounds.
He fought Ricardo Nunez in a WBA super flyweight eliminator on April 17, 2010, at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City
Pasig City
The City of Pasig is one of the city municipalities of Metro Manila in the Philippines and was the former capital of the province of Rizal prior to the formation of this grouping of cities designated as the National Capital Region...
, Metro Manila
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila , the National Capital Region , or simply Metro Manila, is the metropolitan region encompassing the City of Manila and its surrounding areas in the Philippines...
, Philippines. A few days before the bout, Francisco said that a win against Nunez was the key for a title shot. The Filipino boxer won the bout with an impressive knockout win at the 5th round. Francisco dominated the bout from the very start and was able to knock down Nunez twice in the opening round. Nunez survived the count and tried to defend himself and box his foe in the second and third round, connecting with some solid shot to stem Francisco's aggressive style. The boxer from Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
continued on this way in the next round but was once again put in trouble and eventually knocked down twice in the 5th, after being hammered with solid combinations. Referee Bruce McTavish stopped the bout after the second knockdown.
He fought Duangpetch Kokietgym on November 30, 2010 in Nong Khai, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
for the WBA interim superflyweight title. He won the bout with an impressive 10th round knockout.
It was a tough fight for Drian as Kokietgym repeatedly landed low blows. But in the end, Drian Francisco was able to overcome and knockout Kokietgym for the victory and WBA Interim Superflyweight Championship crown. The Thai fighter was down and out for only the second time in 54 fights.
Drian Francisco will most likely fight the winner of the Dec. 23 fight between WBA superflyweight champion Hugo Cazares
Hugo Cázares
Hugo Fidel Cázares is a southpaw professional boxer in the Super flyweight division. He is the former WBA Super Flyweight champion and WBO Light Flyweight champion...
and Japanese challenger Hiroyuki Hisataka. The winner of that fight will be mandated to stake the crown against Francisco on March 9. Cazares, 32, is traveling to Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
to face Hisataka in his third title defense.
On 1 May 2011 Drian Francisco defensed his WBA interim World Super Flyweight title to Thai boxer Tepparith Singwancha
Tepparith Singwancha
Tepparith Singwancha is a Thai professional boxer in the super flyweight division and is the current interim World Boxing Association super flyweight champion....
at Thailand. Francisco was knocked down in the third round. At the end Francisco lost WBA interim World Super Flyweight title for
Thai boxer in Unanimous decision 113-114,113-114,111-117
Drian admitted he was overconfident, he vowed to bounce back from the shock loss on points to Terrapith Singwancha and said he won’t make the same mistake again. Drian fought against Michael Domingo which he won in a unanimous decision in Makati Coliseum
Makati Coliseum
The Makati Coliseum, is an indoor sporting arena located in Makati, Philippines.Built and operated by the Makati City Government, the coliseum has played host to the basketball games of the Philippine Basketball Association, the Philippine Basketball League, the National Collegiate Athletic...
on September 23, 2011. All three judges saw the fight in favor of the Sablayan, Mindoro Occidental native Francisco (21-1-1, 16 knockouts)—96-93, 95-94 and 96-93.