Drian Francisco and Guillermo Rigondeaux face off at the presser (Photo : RingTV/Naoki Fukuda)
I've followed Drian "Gintong Kamao" Francisco (28-3-1, 22 KO's) for most of his career, beginning with his fights for "Boxing at the Bay" in Manila a few years ago, up to now, as he is on the brink of challenging Cuban sensation Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0, 10 KO's).
During that time, I've gotten to know a great fighter and an even amazing person. Francisco to me, along with "The Hawaiian Punch" Brian Viloria, is one of the most humble and down-to-Earth fighters I have ever met.
"Francisco has a better chance of getting struck by lightning than beating Rigondeax," a friend told me.
And while it is true that the seemingly insurmountable odds may be stacked against him, I'm still crossing my fingers that this tremendous fighter, this boxer that I call friend, who likes to eat Beef Nilaga after weigh-ins, can pull off a monumental upset and shock the world.
Here are 5 reasons why Guillermo Rigondeaux is simply ripe for the taking.
#1 Long lay-off
Ring rust can be terrible for a fighter, even for a fighter the caliber of Rigondeaux.
Like I've mentioned so many times before, Rigondeaux is probably the best boxer on the planet after Floyd Mayweather's departure from the sport. He's arguably more talented than the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Roman Gonzalez, and he's a two-time Olympic gold medallist.
He's also a legendary amateur fighter in Cuba.
But the last time he fought was in December of 2014, nearly a year without any action. He defeated Japanese fighter Hisashi Amagasa, but not without running into a bit of trouble and tasting canvas.
Rigondeaux wasn't himself then, and with ring rust possibly affecting him, Francisco can catch him sleeping on defense.
#2 Pressure to entertain
Rigondeaux's greatest victory was that over then highly-regarded pound-for-pound entrant, Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire in 2013. He outpointed and dominated Donaire in ways no one else had done before, making Donaire look like a complete amateur.
One would think that after such a high-profile victory, Rigondeaux's career would have skyrocketed, but the exact opposite happened.
Rigondeaux is just so leagues above anyone else in skill that he rarely gets hit. He boxes from a distance and pot shots his way to victory, while always being out of harm's way.
People were turned off by this boring, play-it-safe style. His own promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, was even one to chastise him in front of all the media. HBO was rumored to not want to have anything to do with him.
And Rigondeaux knows this too, that's why I think there is a little bit of pressure on him to make it a more entertaining fight by taking a few more risks.
Of course, the more risks he takes, the more susceptible he is to getting caught with a big punch.
#3 Francisco has nothing to lose
Francisco's career was once very promising. He was being hailed as the next big thing in Philippine boxing, but promotional and managerial disputes kept him from landing the big fights and as a result, his career stalled as he lost to lesser opposition.
He never got the opportunity to fight for a world title, something that he's wanted his entire career, and neither will he get one now against Rigondeaux (the bout is scheduled for 10-rounds and is a non-title fight), but this is the biggest fight in his life.
If he beats Rigondeaux, the world will be at his feet, and he'll get the recognition he needs to demand a title shot. If he doesn't win, well, then everyone who knows boxing who is picking Rigondeaux will be right and it won't mean a thing.
Francisco has nothing to lose, he can definitely go for broke -- and the fighters who have nothing to lose, are the most dangerous.
#4 Rigondeaux is not invincible
Although he is probably one of the greatest defensive fighters in this generation, Rigondeaux's chin isn't exactly terrific. He has tasted canvas a few times in his professional career.
Ricardo Cordoba sent him to the floor in 2010, Donaire achieved the feat in 2013 and in his most recent fight against Amagasa, Rigondeaux was down twice in the 7th round.
If Francisco can catch Rigondeaux with one of his wild, hail mary haymakers, Rigondeaux will go down. The only task left if that happens is how to finish Rigondeaux off.
#5 Francisco's unorthodox style
For his entire time as a professional prizefighter, Francisco has long been considered a stylish, yet 'awkward' boxer-puncher.
He has the ability to throw punches from weird, awkward angles, sometimes even without looking. He'll launch overhand rights with tremendous velocity, generating sensational power. He's quick and moves well on his feet.
It is for these reasons that opponents had avoided Francisco for the most part, and why he's had difficulty securing fights when he moved to the United States.
Francisco's erratic, rhythmic style could pose problems for Rigondeaux who likes to calculate his opponent's moves and attack from a distance.
If Francisco can do what he does best and turn this into an ugly, beautifully awkward and fast-paced scrap, then maybe, just maybe, we'll get to witness something truly special.
