Francisco invades hostile territory in title bout

Rising Filipino prizefighter Drian Francisco visits hostile territory next month when he faces Duanpetch Kokietgym in Nong Khai province, Thailand. Francisco slugs it out with Kokietgym in a scheduled 12-round showdown on November 30 for the World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight title left vacant by Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. “Drian will see action in his first fight abroad, and we believe, despite the fight being staged in Thailand, that he has a good chance of prevailing," said Saved by the Bell Promotions president Elmer Aruna, Francisco’s promoter. Arunan said that the unbeaten Francisco (19 wins, 15 by knockout and one draw) has been training hard to make sure that he would end up victorious against the veteran Kokietgym “Kokietgym may have the experience but we believe that our boy has the style and ring smarts to beat him," said Aruna. The 30-year-old Thai southpaw is the veteran fighter, having collected 52 wins (21 KOs), one loss and one draw in a 13-year boxing career. Arunan added that they are aware that Kokietgym has a reputation for beating Filipino boxers, with the Thai’s latest victim being Edwin Tumbaga of La Trinidad, Benguet. Tumbaga suffered a second-round KO loss to Kokietgym last September 10 in a 12-round bout for the Pan Asian Boxing Association super flyweight title in Udon Thani, Thailand. Aware that Thailand is notorious for its hometown decisions, Arunan said he is taking steps to ensure that the 28-year-old pride of Agoncillo, Batangas will not get a raw deal. “First, we asked WBA president Gilberto Mendoza to assign neutral judges and referees. We were assured that we will have American and European officials who will officiate the bout," said Arunan. He disclosed that since the fight was set in the remote northern Thai province of Nong Khai, an 11-hour trip by land from Bangkok, Francisco and his trainers will take a direct flight from the Thai capital to the fight site instead. “Instead of one being in Thailand one week before the match, Francisco will be in Thailand two weeks to train for this important match," Arunan said. He added that he will also bring a lot of Filipino followers to watch the championship bout, including GAB chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon, who vowed to be at ringside in his first official trip abroad as head of the government agency regulating professional sports. – KY, JVP, GMANews.TV