Drian Francisco ready for action (Photo : Jhay Oh Otamias)
Former world title challenger, Drian "Gintong Kamao" Francisco (28-3-1, 22 KO's) will face the biggest challenge of his career when he takes on Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO's) on Saturday, November 21, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas as part of the undercard of the highly-anticipated super fight between Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez.
His chances of winning however, are very slim according to a boxing expert.
"Once upon a time Drian looked like a promising fighter who's on his way to the top, but those days are long over," said JM Siasat, GMA News Online's resident go-to boxing head.
"His unorthodox stance will face a stylistic nightmare against Rigondeaux who can be equally unorthodox and a proper textbook pugilist at the same time."
Rigondeaux has long been considered one of the purest boxers on the planet. With two consecutive Olympic gold medals as an amateur bantamweight, one in 2000 and another in 2004, Rigondeaux's boxing skills are simply above and beyond the competitions'.
Siasat believes the only chance Francisco has against Rigondeaux is a puncher's chance, and that out-boxing the Cuban champion is out of the question.
"[Francisco's] punches from seemingly wide angles and open defense will be his downfall. Since his defeat against Avalos, Drian never looked the same, much more impressive," said Siasat.
"Two fights ago [Francisco] got stopped by Jason Canoy in the opening round. This time around he's facing a boxer that's at least 50 times better than Canoy. Rigondeaux has the same if not superior punching power, more speed, way better ring generalship and footwork than both Francisco and Canoy combined."
Siasat, who has been a boxing enthusiast his entire life and has talked about boxing locally and internationally on GMA TV shows and radio shows, is a big voice among the local boxing community. He believes that Rigondeaux is arguably the most talented boxer in the sport today, and in the same category as Vasyl Lomachenko, Roman Gonzalez and Andre Ward.
In fact, Rigondeax is ranked as high as number two on some pound-for-pound lists.
Which is why Siasat feels that the only way for Francisco to score the upset, is if he can land a huge punch that will completely change the complexion of the fight.
Rigondeaux has been down before, and his chin has at times been unable to hold up.
"But finishing the Cuban sensation is a whole different story," claims Siasat.
"Drian, in reality, brings nothing to the table but a hail mary punch to which he has to pray as early as now to land. In the event that it lands, I'm confident he has enough power to floor Rigondeaux, who has suffered several knockdowns in the past," he added.
"If someway, somehow, Drian manages to go beyond round six, then he will already exceed my expectations -- but I'm picking Rigondeaux to win by knockout within five rounds. If the fight goes to a decision, I still have Rigondeaux winning."
Francisco has the odds stacked against him, surely.
But these kinds of fighters, the ones with nothing to lose, are the most likely to surprise.
