Franco Is Looking for More Exposure

Raul Franco is a promoter’s dream. He’s bright and polite with boyish good looks that boxing fans love. His boxing repertoire is just as appealing. He throws beautiful combinations, his punches are powerful and accurate.

In 12 fights, Franco has 12 victories--eight by knockout. But thus far, the Long Beach welterweight’s legend hasn’t extended much beyond Southern California. He made his first national television appearance six weeks ago on ESPN2, knocking out California state champion Humberto Rodriguez of Guadalajara, Mexico, in the third round with a right hand.

That fight made Sacramento-based promoter Don Chargin a believer in Franco and it reinforced what Irvine Marriott promoter Roy Englebrecht already believed, but it didn’t exactly blow away the bigger name promoters--Bob Arum, Don King and Cedric Kushner.

Kushner, contacted at his New York office, said he’d never heard of Franco.

“Maybe that’s my fault, not his,” said Kushner, who promotes Shane Mosely, a former Marriott fighter and current world lightweight champion.

That might change if Franco beats Jose “Chelin” Cruz (18-0, 17 knockouts) in tonight’s 10-round main event at the Marriott. Cruz is ranked 23rd by the World Boxing Council.

“If he beats this guy, this would probably open the doors,” said Dean Lohuis, an inspector for the state athletic commission. “I can’t see it not.”

Franco’s managers, Richard and Gonzalo Garcia, hope Lohuis is right. They are taking a considerable risk by fighting Cruz. Franco was scheduled to face a Bob Arum fighter, Ray Lovato of Fresno. But Lovato had weight problems and Cruz became available to Marriott matchmaker Jerry Bilderrain. Before Franco knew it, he was facing a 21-year-old who is called the “Mexican Tyson” because of his punching power.

“We know nothing about him,” Richard Garcia said. “Nobody has any film on him. But in order for us to make anybody respect us, we felt we had to fight somebody like this. It’s a good step up. You can’t get any tougher than this.”

Chargin, who promoted Franco’s ESPN2 bout, thought Rodriguez was quite a step up. But Franco took him out within three rounds.

“That was a good fighter,” Chargin said. “That’s what really piqued my interest with Raul.”

Chargin said he plans to speak to the Garcias about a long-term deal after the Cruz fight, providing Franco has an impressive outing.

“It’s a shame winning means so much,” Chargin said. “It really isn’t fair.”

Chargin, who promoted former world champions Tony Lopez and Loreto Garza, said he sees in Franco a lot of former world lightweight champion Mando Ramos.

“He’s a nice clean-looking kid,” Chargin said. “I like his assortment of punches and I think he’s going to turn into a power puncher. I have a couple more ESPN shows this year and I’d like to use Raul for them.”

Richard Garcia said he’s interested in talking to Chargin, but he’s more interested in negotiating with King or Arum.

“I haven’t been wanting to give [Franco] away,” Garcia said. “There’s a lot of ways we can go now. We’re not too far from fighting for a world title. I always said Raul could be better than [Oscar] De La Hoya.”

First, he will have to be better than Cruz.

Notes

Tonight’s show begins the 15th anniversary of professional boxing at the Marriott. Raul Franco is part of that history as he will be fighting for the seventh and probably the last time at the Marriott. The four-bout undercard, which begins at 7:30, features lightweight Yoni Vargas (9-1, five knockouts) of Westminster against Frankie Lizzaraga (7-8) of Fresno in a six-rounder. Tickets are $25 and $35.