Francisco proves worth against veteran Vasquez

Drian Francisco showed to everyone that he truly deserved the high expectations pinned on him by his camp. The 26-year-old turned non-believers to believers when he scored a sensational 10th round technical knockout (TKO) victory over veteran Roberto Vasquez from Panama to annex the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) international super flyweight crown Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Francisco twice sent Vasquez down on the canvas with the second knockdown, late in the 10th round, forcing the Panamanian’s corner to throw in the towel. It was Francisco's 14th win by way of knockout earning him his 18th career victory in 19 fights. A draw against compatriot Nino Suelo on Oct. 16, 2007 was the lone blemish in his almost perfect record. "Alam kong underdog ako sa labang ito pero sa sarili ko ay alam ko rin na kaya ko siyang talunin. Pero hindi sumagi sa isip ko na sa ganitong paraan ako mananalo dahil dating world champion siya at matalinong boksingero (I’m the underdog but I know that I can beat him. I never thought of winning this way since he is a former champion and a crafty boxer)," said Francisco after the win. But that was not evident in the fight as Francisco seemed to be the veteran teaching Vasquez a thing or two in boxing. Francisco caught Vasquez’ defense napping and even managed to hurt him on several no-look punches. "Kailangan talagang iba't-ibang style ang gamitin ko dahil beterano si Vasquez. Kailangang gulat-gulatin siya para makapuntos ako (I need to use different styles since Vazquez is a veteran fighter. I need to surprise him so I could earn points)." "He fights very awkward and weird. His punches were not that strong but he confused me with his style," said Vasquez, who was later brought to a nearby hospital because of exhaustion. Vasquez, who came in 1 1/2 lbs over the 115-lb limit in his first attempt during Friday's weigh-in, climbed the ring at 134 lbs and could not flash the same deadly form that gave him a split decision victory over Japan’s Takefumi Sakata on Dec. 2, 2006 to clinch the World Boxing Association (WBA) interim world flyweight title. "He felt weak basically because he went pretty big at 134 lbs because of fluids. Somehow, that affected his performance because he lost his speed," said Carlos Gonzales, Vazquez’ manager. Both fighters studied each other's style in the first round but Francisco connected with a left hook off Vasquez’ face before the bell sounded. Francisco stepped up his attack and scored with his no-look punches in the next rounds. In the fifth, he capitalized on the tiring Vasquez with a powerful left straight sending the Panamanian down for the first time. "Noong napatumba ko siya sa fifth alam kong mananalo na ako dahil nasaktan ko na siya (I knew then when he went down in the fifth that I could win since I have already hurt him)," said Francisco who is now in a good position of challenging reigning WBA champion Noubo Nashiro of Japan. Filipino world champions Nonito Donaire Jr. and Donnie Nietes showed their support to Francisco while former World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight champion Christian Mijares of Mexico was also in the crowd sizing up Francisco. "Gusto siguro niyang (Mijares) makitang lumaban si Francisco dahil puwede silang magkalaban sa hinaharap. Di ko alam kung ano ang tunay niyang plano dahil kasama siya ng mga bisita natin. Pero mas pagtutuunan ko talaga ang mailaban si Drian sa world title next year (Mijares maybe wanted to see how Francisco fights since it’s possible they could meet inside the inside the ring. But I am more interested in securing a world title fight for Francisco next year)," added Anuran. Francisco's victory capped the host boxers’ dominance against their foreign opponents as Milan Melindo, Michael Domingo, Michael Farrenas and Al Sabaupan winning their respective fights. Domingo and Farrenas both scored KO wins for the Ala Boxing stable. Domingo forced US Olympian and four-time world title challenger Jose Navarro to quit during the rest period before the start of the eighth round due to a swollen left eye. Farrenas put Korean Jon Ang Baek down for good in the ninth with a series of combinations capped by a powerful left hand. Melindo, who is also under the Ala Boxing stable, scored a unanimous decision victory over Mexican Guadalupe Martinez while Sabaupan also went home with a UD win over Mexican Josafat Perez. – GMANews.TV