by Geoffrey Ciani – Michael Franco (16-0, 11 KOs) is a 23 year old prospect competing in the featherweight division. He is scheduled to face Adolfo Lenaderos (20-14-1, 9 KOs) on Friday, August 20 in the eight round semi-main event at the Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona. The fight will be televised on Telefutura.
Franco will be making his return to the ring after nearly a nine month layoff, which is his longest period of inactivity since turning pro when he was 18 almost five years ago. The ‘Lil Warrior’ will also be having his first fight in the 126 pound weight class. The former WBC intercontinental youth champion has long been touted as a promising prospect with great potential. I was afforded the opportunity to have a brief chat with Franco earlier today and here is what he had to say:
Q: Michael, how is training and preparations going for your August 20 fight against Adolfo Landeros?
A: Everything is going great. It couldn’t be any better. Everything’s been perfect. I sparred ten rounds today at Wild Card Boxing Gym out in Hollywood, California. We did ten rounds today, and we spar Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and on Thursdays we get our regular roadwork in and also on Saturdays we do running, but everything’s been going great. My team is doing well, I’m doing well, everything is going perfectly, and I can’t wait for August 20.
Q: This fight will be televised on Telefutura. What can fans expect to see from you when they tune in on August 20?
A: I’ve only fought a couple of times on TV, but what I will be doing in there is throwing hard with ferocious punches, going in there working real hard, working at a fast pace like all of my fights, and then go in there and take out my opponent. I’m going to do great. All of our training camp has been going very well. It couldn’t have done any better and this is going to be a great fight. It’s going to be real. I really can’t wait. I haven’t been this hungry in a long, long time. Even with my long layoff of almost ten months, other than that I’ve always kept in the gym and I’ve been sparring and helping other guys spar so I’m always staying tuned. I’m a gym rat myself, so other than actually getting into the ring I’m always in top shape to fight. So with this fight here, I’m ready. I’m ready for anything.
Q: Now you mentioned the long layoff. This is in fact the longest layoff you’ve had in your career. Why the long layoff and do you think this will have any impact on your performance?
A: The reason for this long layoff, we were just getting our team together. We had a couple of issues with our team but everything is great now, and that’s why we’re back in the gym. We’re ready to go. Other than myself not fighting, as I said I’m a gym rat, I’m always in the gym, I’m always tuned, I’m always at weight. It’s just something from growing up. I’ve always played sports and if I don’t work out I’ll stay up until four in the morning just because my body’s so used to that hard work. If I don’t get that hard work, I’m wide awake until four in the morning so I have to get that hard work in and I’m always staying tuned. Other than actually not being in the ring, I mean there will be a little bit of ring rust from not being actually in the ring with the lights and people, but I have sixteen fights. I’m used to that. So there won’t be too much rust. I know there won’t be and I’m always in shape so I’m always good to go.
Q: Now this will also be your first fight at the 126 pound weight limit. Do you think this weight class is better suited for you?
A: Yeah. You know, I’m growing. I’m still growing. I gained maybe like an inch and a half in the past two years and I’ve gotten a little wider and just growing up. I started when I was 18 years old and I jumped from 115 to 118 to 122 and now I’m at 126. But as I’m growing, I’m just naturally filling in. I’m not out of shape or anything. It’s just natural weight. I’m gaining muscle, and like everybody says I’m turning into a man. To get my man body, that’s what everybody says. It’s not going to have a problem at all. When I spar, I can spar guys that fight at 130 or 135 just so they can bring me that extra pressure and when I go in there and fight it’s a little easier. So I have to spar with guys that fight at that weight. I’m ready.
Q: Now your last fight was back in November against former two-time WBO champion Kermin Guardia. How do you evaluate your performance from that one?
A: You know what, I was on a short notice that it was a southpaw. I was scheduled to fight somebody that was I believe 5’7”-5’8”, a tall skinny guy. Then when we got switched to Guardia, he was a southpaw, he was 5’5”, and he was a mover so it was really, really a big difference and a big jump. I’m not scared to fight anybody and I go in there and I use intelligence when I’m in the ring. It took me awhile just to figure him out, to figure the southpaw. I think I only had one sparring session with a southpaw for that fight. So I kind of really wasn’t used to it, but like I said I fight with intelligence, I use my jab, and I always listen to my coach. It took me awhile to figure him out, but I dropped him in the fourth round and little by little I was taking him apart. I ended up taking him out in the last round. It was no problem at all.
Q: How did you first become involved in boxing?
A: In boxing just like any other normal kid in the gym. I started boxing actually at Willy’s Boxing Gym in Mira loma, California. My father had known him and one day when I was like ten or eleven, my father asked me if I wanted to go into the gym and try it out. Sure, I tried it out. I did that and I also played baseball and football at the time and so I was always going back and forth. Like I said, I have always been active as a kid. Just going back and forth from baseball to football and I believe it was my sophomore year in high school when I dropped everything, baseball and football and I stuck to boxing. It’s been that way ever since. It’s been my life ever since.
Q: Who are some of your favorite fighters today that you like to watch in boxing?
A: Today there’s many fighters that I like. My favorite fighter, who no longer fights, but possibly is my favorite fighter is Julio Cesar Chavez, who I pretty much got my body work from. That body shot was something. Growing up I remember seeing it, then I’d go in the gym and I’d try to imitate it so that body work right there had a big influence on my game plan. I like Zab Judah. I really like Zab Judah. Miguel Cotto, I respect all fighters. I’m not going to go there and say, ‘Oh this fighter’s bad, oh this fighter’s not good’. All fighters just go in there and have the dedication to train, and to get in the ring, and have the heart to go in. It takes a lot and I understand that so I respect all fighters. I respect them all.
Q: Now Michael, you just turned 23 years old, you are 16-0, and you have your whole future ahead of you. What would you ultimately like to accomplish in professional boxing?
A: I want a championship, hopefully soon. We’ll talk it over with my team and go back to the drawing board after this fight and see what’s up or see what’s next. I’ve always listened to them and I’ve always respected their decisions and it’s paid off well. I’m 16-0 now, and with my hard work and with their smart decisions I believe I can have a championship soon and that’s my goal.
Q: Now what you say “soon”, how far removed do you think you realistically are from getting that shot?
A: I have 16 fights right now, I need at least 20 so maybe four more fights. I’m hoping to have maybe three this year, so I’m looking at maybe the middle of next year or the end of next year. It’s all with my team. We’re going to go to the drawing board and see what we have to do. It’s my team, and I’m going to respect their decisions. It’s obviously paid off in the past so that’s why I respect them.
Q: Now Michael, for my final question, is there anything else you would like to say to all the fans from East Side Boxing?
A: I want to thank everybody. Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Hopefully these guys will be able to tune in and watch the fight. It’s going to be a great fight. I’m really, really excited. I’m excited to get back into the ring, I’m excited for everything. Everything’s been going well. It couldn’t have gone any better and it’s going to be a great fight. Everybody should tune in.
Q: Great. Thank you very much for your time, Michael. I wish you the best of luck in your upcoming fight.
A: Thank you very much.
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