Drian must settle legal issues

MANILA, Philippines - Former WBA interim superflyweight champion Drian Francisco was once considered to be the next big thing in Philippine boxing. Today, the fighter known as “Gintong Kamao” is in the middle of a managerial tug-of-war and unless he resolves the contractual squabble, it will be difficult for his career to get back on track.

Francisco, 32, was recently sued by his manager Elmer Anuran for signing up with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s conditioning coach Justin Fortune, an Australian based in Los Angeles. Anuran said he has a live contract with Francisco and it doesn’t expire until October 2016. But Anuran claimed Francisco inked a four-year contract with Fortune to expire in 2019.

Anuran filed a case in the regional trial court of Makati against Francisco for breach of contract and was set to seek a temporary restraining order in preventing the fighter to proceed with a bout against John Mark Apolinario in Davao City last month. Anuran, however, held back out of respect for Fortune who was in General Santos City for over a month working with Pacquiao before the Chris Algieri match.

Francisco relocated to Los Angeles two years ago and Anuran endorsed him to Fortune. He posted two wins in a row, stopping Jose Carlos Vargas in one round in Sonora and halting Javier Gallo in five in Los Angeles before taking on Chris Avalos in Las Vegas. “Top Rank got Drian the fight against Avalos and honored his contract with me,” said Anuran. “I’m grateful to Bob Arum for recognizing the validity of my contract.”

After a 13-month hiatus, Francisco returned to action and knocked out Colombian Manuel de los Reyes Herrera with a body shot at 0:48 of the third round in Pleasanton, California, last August. Then, he came back to the Philippines and joined Fortune in Pacquiao’s training camp.

For a while, it wasn’t sure if Francisco would fight Apolinario because of Anuran’s suit. But the bout went on anyway. Francisco scored a unanimous 10-round decision, flooring Apolinario in the fifth and seventh rounds. The judges had no difficulty picking the winner as Ronnie Mondejar saw it 100-90, Romy Fordaliza 97-92 and Mario de Ramos 98-90. The win raised Francisco’s record to 26-2-1, with 20 KOs.

“I didn’t want Manny or his team to think I would do something to hamper Drian’s career,” said Anuran. “I have too much respect for Manny. I’m just hoping I could meet Manny or his team soon to iron out this problem. I’ll do what Manny wants. I’m sure it’s something we can work out. Who am I to refuse Manny if he asks me to back down? I just don’t want Drian to be wasted talent. I think he can still be a world champion. I respect Justin and if he wants, he could look over my stable of nine fighters and pick whom he’d like to train.”

Anuran, who owns the Touch Gloves stable of Agoncillo, Batangas, and Saved By The Bell Promotions, said Francisco has to settle his issues now before it’s too late. Francisco moved up to No. 1 in the WBA superflyweight ratings after knocking out Panamanians Roberto Vasquez and Ricardo Nunez in 2009-10. The Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro fighter was unbeaten in 20 straight outings when he lost to Terrapith KokietGym in Petchaburi, Thailand, in May 2011. He has since won six of seven fights, four by KO.

Francisco now campaigns in the bantamweight and superbantamweight divisions. He scaled 120 pounds, two over the bantamweight limit and two under the superbantamweight ceiling, in defeating Apolinario. Asked whom he prefers to manage his career, Francisco pointed to Fortune during a recent chat in General Santos City. But if Anuran has legal basis to bind Francisco, a settlement or a termination of their agreement is required before signing a contract with a third party. There were unconfirmed reports that Francisco was virtually abandoned in Los Angeles and Fortune came to his rescue, creating their bond.

Francisco has never fought for a world title although he held the WBA interim superflyweight title for six months and once won a WBA title eliminator. Mexico’s Hugo Cazares, then the WBA superflyweight champion, avoided Francisco like the plague until the Filipino fell out of title contention with the loss to Terrapith.

Anuran said the mainstays in his stable are former IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion Al Sabaupan and lightweight Roberto Gonzales. Sabaupan, 26, has a 23-2-1 record, with 18 KOs, and is fresh from halting Indonesia’s Eddy Comaro. His only losses were to Mexicans in Mexico and he’s stung up three straight wins, all by KO, over Thailand’s Rachamongkol Sor Pleonchit, Tanzania’s Sadiki Momba and Comaro since bowing to Ricardo Dominguez on points in Sinaloa last year.

Gonzales, 24, is Anuran’s rising star. His record is 24-2, with 15 KOs. He won his first 20 fights then lost two in a row before racking up four consecutive victories, all by KO. In his next assignment, Gonzales will face Jose Ocampo in Agoncillo on Dec. 21.