Solar airs Boxing at the Bay

MANILA, Philippines - Regarded as the network leader in the telecasting of Philippine professional boxing, Solar tv is back with a bang through its third edition of the Boxing at the Bay series.

Entitled Young Guns, the main event is headlined by promising and undefeated Filipino Drian Francisco.

The rising Filipino prospect is set to face Ricardo Nuñez of Panama on April 17 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.

The fight at the 115-pound division will be a title eliminator for the right to face WBA super flyweight champion Nobuo Nashiro of Japan.

Francisco earned his WBA No. 3 rating with a 10th round TKO win over Roberto “La Arana” Vasquez, also of Panama last October. Nuñez, meanwhile, occupies the No. 2 spot in the WBA rankings.

Francisco, who goes by the monicker “Gintong Kamao”(Golden Fist), shot up to No. 3 in the WBA ratings after he stopped Panama’s Roberto Vasquez in the 10th round for the vacant WBA International superflyweight diadem at the Cuneta Astrodome last October.

The win raised Francisco’s record to 18-0-1, with 14 KOs.

Although Francisco has never fought abroad, his list of victims includes Korea‘s Jung Soo Jung, Indonesia‘s Sharil Fabango and Thailand ‘s Pichitchai Twin Gym, Deeden Sithsaithong, Wanmeechok Singwancha, Pradabsn Siwagon and Onechana Sikmurat.

Nuñez, ranked No. 2 by the WBA and No. 1 by the WBC, is out to avenge fellow countryman Roberto Vasquez’ loss.

He is known as “El Matematico” for his “mathematical precision, impressive hand speed and ruthless killer’s instinct.”

His record is 17-1, with 15 KOs, including seven in the first round. He has won his last seven bouts, six by KO. Last November, Nuñez floored Nicaragua’s Juan Centeno five times en route to scoring a brutal third-round stoppage.

“Young Guns” is the third installment of the Boxing at the Bay brand after “First Strike” and “Collision Course” as Solar TV continues to bring world-class boxing to fight enthusiasts around the world from Asia. Three more events are planned this year throughout the region.

This series will not only offer all-action cards but will allow fans to follow these fighters marching up the ratings toward world title shots, providing exciting matches from some of the country’s most respected fighters.

Tickets available at all Ticketnet(911-5555) and Ticketworld (891-9999) outlets.