Francisco WBA super fly international champion

MANILA, Philippines - Drian ‘’Golden Fists’’ Francisco punched his way to a thrilling 10th round TKO victory over former two-time world champion Roberto Vasquez of Panama to capture the vacant WBA super flyweight international title yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay.

The 26-year-old Francisco shocked the highly favored Vasquez with his unorthodox style to stretch his unbeaten mark to 18 wins, including 14 knockouts.

Saved by the Bell Promotion president Elmer Anuran, who staged the fightcard dubbed Battle of Manila Bay: First Strike said next for Francisco could be WBA super flyweight titleholder Nobou Nashiro of Japan early next year.

‘Our next target is to challenge reigning WBA super flyweight champion Nobou Nashiro of Japan. True to his promise, Drian did not disappoint but there’s always a room for improvement,’’ Anuran said.

The native of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro used his powerful left hooks and combinations to take the fight out of the Panamanian, who dropped to 27-4, including 20 knockouts.

He decked Vasquez in the fifth round. Francisco jarred his foe with a left hook near the end of the 10th where he pummeled the helpless Panamanian with combinations forcing Vasquez’s corner to stop the fight.

In the main supporting bout, Michael Farrenas won the World Professional Boxing Federation crown with a ninth round TKO win over Korean Jon Ang Baek.

Lightweight Al Sabaupan posted a unanimous decision over favored Mexican titleholder Josafat Perez; light-flyweight Milan Melindo won by unanimous decision over Mexican Guadalupe Martinez in a bloody bout and Michael Domingo triumphed by TKO over American Jose Navarro in the seventh round in the other supporting bouts.