Big payday for Drian

MANILA, Philippines - WBA interim superflyweight champion Drian Francisco is guaranteed a purse of $140,000 to take on No. 4 contender Tepparith Singwancha in a 12-round bout in Surat Thani, Thailand, on May 1 and a win will take the Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, slugger a step closer to a showdown with Mexico’s Hugo Cazares.

It’s a calculated gamble for Francisco who will lose his chance to meet Cazares if he bows to Tepparith. Cazares is the WBA 115-pound titleholder and has been avoiding Francisco like a plague. The Mexican won the WBA crown on a decision over Nobuo Nashiro in Osaka last May and has since repulsed three challengers.

But Francisco’s manager Elmer Anuran told The STAR yesterday there’s no way “Gintong Kamao” will lose to the Thai.

“We’re confident,” said Anuran. “We were ready to fight a tune-up in Manila on April 9 then the Thai offer came. Drian’s biggest purse was $50,000 for fighting Duangpetch (Kokiet Gym) in Thailand last November. We’re not surprised that the Thais are now offering $140,000. Drian is well-known in Thailand and the promoters want a big fight for the May 1 Labor Day celebration.”

Anuran said Tepparith is a come-forward fighter who packs a lot of power. “Of course, it’s a risk but I think Drian can handle Tepparith,” said Anuran. “We’ll be in Surat Thani a week before the fight. We’ll be provided ground transportation and hotel accommodations near the venue. I’ve spoken with (WBA executive vice president) Gilberto Jesus Mendoza and he will assign a neutral referee and three neutral judges for the fight. After Drian beats Terrapith, I will submit a purse bid to fight Cazares. If Cazares refuses to fight despite the purse bid, the WBA will declare Drian the new champion outright.”

Anuran said the plan is for Francisco to challenge Cazares in Manila in July.

“I advised Drian to be patient,” said Anuran. “He’s so close to becoming the WBA champion. I know he’s a little exasperated because Cazares keeps avoiding him. I understand no Mexican promoter is willing to put up the money for a defense against Drian in Mexico. Drian is comfortable in the superflyweight division. So far, we have no plans of moving up. We’ll wait for the chance to win the title then we’ll think of what to do next.”

Anuran said it was rumored that Cazares would relinquish the superflyweight title and move up to challenge WBA bantamweight champion Koki Kameda of Japan. But Kameda reportedly rejected Cazares’ bid, leaving the Mexican stranded in the 115-pound division.

Francisco is now training full-blast for Terrapith with over 60 rounds of sparring logged in.

Francisco, 28, has disposed of six Thai opponents so far, all by knockout. Two victims were dispatched in a single round and one of them, Wanmeechok Singwancha, is Terrapith’s stablemate. His record is 20-0-1, with 16 KOs. Francisco has won his last five assignments by knockout, including back-to-back wins over Panamanians Roberto Vasquez and Ricardo Nunez.

Not to be outdone, Terrapith has beaten all his eight Filipino opponents so far. His Filipino victims were Rodel Tajares (W6), Michael Rodriguez (W12), Along Dinoy (KO7), Rey Migreno (KO6), Mating Kilakil (KO6), Ryan Tampus (KO3), Apol Suico (KO1) and Niño Suelo (W11). His record is 15-2, with 10 KOs. The two losses were to Thais early in his career.

Anuran said Francisco will go all out to score an early knockout over Terrapith. “We want to get it over with as soon as possible and not allow the Thai to steal a decision,” said Anuran. “Our goal is to win the world title before the year ends. Drian has waited long for a world title shot. It’s overdue. If Cazares doesn’t want to fight Drian, we’ve been assured by the WBA that for as long as Drian beats Terrapith, he will be the new champion outright.”

Terrapith isn’t the highest-ranked Thai superflyweight in the WBA. Denkaosen Kaovichit is rated No. 3 but Francisco couldn’t care less whom he faces. He’s getting the biggest purse of his career to fight Terrapith and with the Cazares fight in limbo, that’s all that matters for the moment.