New opponent for `Gintong Kamao'

UPCOMING Drian Francisco will still have a Panamanian for his new opponent.

After getting ditched by Rafael Concepcion for their scheduled July 26 fight at the Astrodome, Francisco’ s handlers led by Elmer Anuran of Save By The Bell, decided to tap Concepcion’s compatriot, Roberto Vazquez, for his next foe.

The two will slug it out on Sept. 26 at the Astrodome for the World Boxing Association (WBA) International super-flyweight championship.

Anuran decided not to take legal action against Concepcion and his manager in the light of their cancelled fight.

Apparently, Concepcion, the gung-ho Panamanian best remembered for inflicting AJ `Bazooka’ Banal his first career loss as a pro, has hooked up an August 15 fight with Nonito Donaire Jr. in a bout that serves as the Filipino’s first match as a super-flyweight.

Anuran however, regretted the fact that the Concepcion-Francisco fight didn’t push through after the contract had already been signed as early as May.

Promoter Saved by The Bell already began preparations with the venue reservations, ticket selling and printing of marketing collaterals.

But the outbreak of the A(H1N1) in early June prompted Anuran to ask Concepcion’s camp to have the fight rescheduled by September, a condition Concepcion’s handlers readily accepted.

However, by the third week of June, Concepcion and Co. sent an email to Anuran calling the fight off.

Aware that Concepcion will still be taking on a fellow Filipino, Anuran just let go of the incident and charged it to experience.

Dubbed `Gintong Kamao’, Francisco sports an unbeaten record of 16 wins, including 12 by knockouts. He has set up his training camp at the Touch gloves gym in Agoncillo, Batangas. -Philippine Boxing News