It's do or die for Drian

MANILA, Philippines - Unbeaten Drian Francisco goes for broke in his overseas debut against local favorite Duangpetch Kokiet-Gym a they battle for the right to challenge WBA superflyweight champion Hugo Cazares in a 12-round bout at the Bueng Kan school in the northeast Thai province of Nong Khai today.

Francisco’s manager Elmer Anuran told The Star yesterday that the WBA has approved a resolution to name the Francisco-Duangpetch winner as Cazares’ mandatory challenger on March 9. If Francisco beats Duangpetch, Anuran said he will negotiate to host the fight against Cazares in Manila. Cazares, however, has a previous appointment with Japan’s Hiroyuki Hisataka in his third title defense in Osaka on Dec. 23.

But first things first. Francisco must repulse the Thai to seal the crack at the WBA crown.

“Drian is confident,” said Anuran who phoned from a hotel in Nong Khai, about a two-hour drive to the fight venue which borders Laos. “He’s ready to do what it takes to win. We’ve heard that Duangpetch will try to hit and run. That’s understandable. I’m sure he respects Drian’s power. He’ll stay away. Duangpetch is determined to win. He announced that if he loses, he will retire because that means he will no longer fight for the world title. Duangpetch was quoted in media as admitting he has never trained harder for a fight. This is it, his last chance.”

Francisco, Anuran, trainer Benny de la Pena and a handful of supporters left Manila for Bangkok early last week. The traveling party was initially booked at the Siam Hotel but later transferred to 13 Coins which has more amenities. The other day, they took a 45-minute flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani and upon landing, motored to a hotel in Nong Khai an hour away. Without informing the Thai promoters, Anuran arranged for Francisco to stay in a hotel in Bueng Kan so he was spared from a four-hour, turn-around travel time for the weigh-in yesterday. He will also be spared a long car drive to the fight venue today.

“We sent an advance party to book a hotel near the fight venue for Drian,” said Anuran. “All the hotels are fully booked in Bueng Kan but luckily, we found four available rooms at the Menam Hotel. We made our own arrangements because the promoters provided hotel accommodations a four-hour, round-trip away.”

Anuran said during their one-week stay in Bangkok, Francisco worked out only twice in a gym designated by the Thai promoters. “We weren’t comfortable in the gym because we were being scouted and even Duangpetch’s trainer watched Drian,” said Anuran. “Anyway, Drian has finished his training for Duangpetch so he just tapered off by jogging in the morning and doing mitts with Benny. Making the weight was no problem.”

Francisco and Duangpetch will dispute the vacant WBA interim superflyweight title relinquished by Nonito Donaire. The Filipino is ranked No. 1 by the WBA and Duangpetch, No. 2.

The WBA supervisor assigned to the fight is Japan’s Tsuyoshi Yasukochi. The referee is Steve Smoger, a municipal court judge in Atlantic City and a Lt. Col. in the US Air Force reserves. He has worked over 60 world title fights since 1984 and was the third man in the ring for fights involving world champions like Lennox Lewis, Roberto Duran, Hector Camacho, Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson, Virgil Hill, Arturo Gatti, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones, Felix Trinidad, Evander Holyfield, Brian Viloria (twice) and Larry Holmes.

The judges are Guillermo Perez Pineda of Panama, Takeshi Shimakawa of Japan and Wan Soo Yuh of South Korea. Anuran said he personally requested the WBA for a referee and judges from neutral countries.

Francisco said he’s not fazed by the difficulty of beating Duangpetch in his home country. “I’m ready,” he said. “I know Duangpetch is a tough fighter and he’s never lost to a Filipino. This is my first fight outside the Philippines. I’m both excited and nervous. I was prepared to fight Cristian Mijares in Mexico so if I wasn’t scared of fighting a Mexican in Mexico, what more fighting a Thai in Thailand. It doesn’t matter where I fight. I’m one win away from a world title fight and I won’t blow this opportunity.”

Francisco, 27, has a 19-0-1 record, with 15 KOs, and is coming off back-to-back abbreviated wins over Panamanians Roberto Vasquez and Ricardo Nunez. Duangpetch, 30, boasts a record of 52-1-1, with 21 KOs, and disposed of Filipino Edwin Tumbaga in two rounds in his latest outing three months ago. The Thai hasn’t lost since his second pro fight in 1997 and has victimized eight Filipinos.

Anuran said about 26 Filipino supporters will be at ringside cheering for Francisco. Also expected to attend are Games and Amusements Board chairman Monju Guanzon and boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz.