Anuran weighs options for Drian

MANILA, Philippines - Unbeaten superflyweight contender Drian (Gintong Kamao) Francisco’s manager Elmer Anuran said yesterday he is carefully studying the fighter’s options for a title crack and disclosed plans of staging a championship bout here in September or October.

Francisco, 27, was listed as the “official challenger” in the WBA’s most recent ratings after halting Panama’s Ricardo Nuñez in the fifth round of their title eliminator at the Ynares Gym in Pasig last April. Nunez was demoted from No. 2 to No. 9 in the rankings.

Anuran said he is waiting for Francisco to be elevated to No. 1 by the WBC as Nunez was the top contender before they fought. But surprisingly, Francisco was not ranked in the WBC’s top 40 in its latest ratings. Nuñez has dropped to No. 11. “I still have to talk with (WBC executive secretary) Mauricio Sulaiman about it,” said Anuran. “I didn’t see Drian on top of the WBC’s ratings. That’s a question.”

The WBC probably ignored Francisco because he fought Nuñez for the right to be the next mandatory challenger of newly crowned WBA titleholder Hugo Cazares of Mexico.

Anuran said he is pushing for Francisco to face Cazares in Manila.

“We’ve started negotiations with Cazares’ manager Nacho Huizar,” said Anuran. “It’s okay for Cazares to fight in Manila for as long as the price is right. Nacho is willing to give me the chance to promote in Manila. If for some reason, the fight against Cazares doesn’t push through, we’ll consider fighting for the IBF title. If Drian wins the IBF title, then we’ll go for a unification fight against Cazares.”

Anuran said IBF 115-pound champion Simphiwe Nongqayi of South African has sent feelers that he’s available to stake his crown against Francisco in Manila in October.

Anuran said whether it’s the WBA or IBF title on the line, Francisco will win either way.

“No more tune-up fight for Drian,” said Anuran. “He’s ready for a title shot. We could go for the WBA or IBF title. Right now, he’s listed as the next official challenger by the WBA. But we’re also exploring the possibility of fighting for the WBC title but we’re just wondering why Drian is not ranked despite beating the No. 1 contender Nuñez.”

The WBC recognizes Vic Darchinyan as its superflyweight champion but the Australian is expected to relinquish the title as he captured the vacant IBO bantamweight crown on a unanimous 12-round decision over Filipino Eric Barcelona in Parramatta, New South Wales, last Thursday. Darchinyan was supposed to be in line for a rematch against Nonito Donaire but the fight has been shelved due to a dispute regarding international TV rights.

Anuran said Francisco is open to fighting either Cazares or Nongqayi.

Cazares, 32, won the WBA superflyweight title by outpointing Japan’s Nobuo Nashiro in Osaka last May 8. Cazares and Nashiro had previously battled to a draw. The Mexican is unbeaten in his last five outings and hasn’t lost since dropping a seventh round unanimous technical decision to Ivan Calderon for the WBO lightflyweight title in Puerto Rico in April 2008. Cazares has a 31-6-2 record, with 22 KOs, and reigned as WBO lightflyweight champion in 2005-07 with five successful defenses, including four by stoppage.

Nongqayi, known as the “Golden Master,” claimed the vacant IBF superflyweight crown on an upset 12-round decision over Jorge Arce in Cancun last September. He had previously defeated Arce’s brother Francisco, also in Mexico. In his first title defense, Nongqayi was held to a majority draw by Malik Bouziane in France.

Nongqayi’s record is 16-0-1, with six KOs compared to Francisco’s 19-0-1, with 15 KOs.

Francisco is ranked No. 4 by the IBF. Mexico’s Alberto Rosas, who was decisioned by Filipino A. J. Banal in 2007, is the No. 1 contender while Raul Martinez, knocked out by Donaire last year, is No. 3. The IBF has left the No. 2 slot vacant.