Cuban defector Luis Franco is aiming to make up for lost time
BY SANTOS A. PEREZ
sperez@MiamiHerald.com
The actions of his 2004 Olympic teammates sealed Luis Franco's fate. A
favorite to contend for a second Olympic berth for his native Cuba in
2008, Franco instead was left off the squad, essentially ending his
amateur career.
Franco became an afterthought in the Cuban sports system partly because
of a belief that he might defect. Franco, 27, indeed defected two months
ago and now will make his professional debut July 31 at the Seminole
Hard Rock Live Arena. Franco's scheduled four-round featherweight bout
against Kaito Ferguson will be part of a seven-fight card.
''The most difficult decision was leaving behind my family in Cuba,''
Franco said. ``But this was a decision I needed to make if I wanted to
continue my boxing career.
``I planned [defecting] for a long time but never had the possibility.
Once the opportunity came up, I took advantage of it.''
Despite finishing out of the medals in the 2004 Games in Athens, Franco
has a promising professional upside, according to his promotional team.
With a busy and successful bout schedule, Franco could fight for a world
title in less than two years, co-promoter Richard Dobal said.
''In my short time preparing as a professional, I have noticed the
obvious differences to the amateurs,'' Franco said. ``The most
noticeable thing I've faced in my workouts is the size of the gloves.
``Instead of using 10-ounce gloves, I am working out with 8-ounce
gloves, and you can feel the difference in the punches. They feel as if
you are getting kicked by a horse.''
Franco knew his goal of consecutive Olympic appearances grew dimmer with
a sequence of events involving teammates. Countrymen and 2004
gold-medalists Yuriorkis Gamboa, Odlanier Solis and Yan Barthelemy
defected in December 2006.
The following year, two-time gold-medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux and
teammate Erislandy Lara made an ill-fated attempt at defecting during
the Pan American Games in Brazil. Both were detained, then repatriated
to Cuba before leaving the island in separate defections.
Franco nodded in agreement but without expressing that the defections
cost him his status in the boxing system. Cuban boxing officials found
the opening to deny Franco another Olympic berth after his loss in an
important national tournament two years ago.
Moreover, Cuba took an entirely new team to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
''The moment I was removed from the Cuban team, I knew my career in Cuba
was over,'' Franco said.
``I didn't have access to their facilities and workouts. I kept in shape
working out on my own, playing soccer.''
Franco also maintained ties with his former teammates, especially since
arriving in the United States.
''They have given me advice, especially with the experiences they went
through when they first fought as professionals,'' Franco said. ``They
all support me as I pursue my dream in professional boxing.''
URANGO VS. BAILEY
Juan Urango will make the first defense of his International Boxing
Federation junior-welterweight title against Randall Bailey on Aug. 28
at Hard Rock Live Arena. The bout between South Florida residents will
be the year's final telecast of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2.
Urango won his second 140-pound title with a unanimous decision over
Herman Ngoudjo on Jan. 30 but moved up to the 147-pound welterweight
class, where he lost a unanimous decision against World Boxing Council
champion Andre Berto in a May 30 bout at Hard Rock Live Arena.
Negotiations are continuing to include a second world-title bout on the
card. Chicago-based Richie Boy Productions recently won the purse bid to
promote the vacant IBF light-heavyweight title fight between
Tallahassee's Tavoris Cloud and England's Clinton Woods.
The IBF title became vacant after former champion Chad Dawson renounced
the belt to fight Miami resident Glen Johnson in a more lucrative bout
Nov. 7.
Cuban defector Luis Franco is aiming to make up for lost time - Sports -
MiamiHerald.com (19 July 2009)
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1148795.html
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