Michael Franco Is Making Waves
In Southern California Gym Circles
 

By Igor Frank





 Michael “Lil Warrior” Franco turned professional in June of 2005 at the age of eighteen after a brief amateur career of forty seven fights. His professional record stands at eleven victories, eight by knock out and no defeats. He lives at home in Hesperia with his parents; mother Teresa, father Al, who is also his trainer and two brothers and a sister.

 

Living at home has its advantages, Michael is a full time professional boxer and he practices his craft like a full time job. “He is very dedicated to his training,” said Al of his son:” When we go out for hamburgers, Michael passes.”Al Franco, father-trainer talked to me about their training schedule as I watched Michael spar six spirited rounds with a tall and lanky Korean boxer in Hollywood at the Wild Card Gym, owned by Freddie Roach.

  

 

“Freddie gives us good work,” said Al: “We go all over for sparing.” It is a sound strategy, especially considering how many talented fighters one can find going around Southern California Gyms. After sparring, two hour swim is on schedule, then lunch and then a trip to LA Fitness for extensive work out. Next day begins with an eight mile run followed by sparring at a different gym and more working out in the afternoon, and so on and so forth, five days a week , full days work outs. Al does not baby his son, as evidenced by the fact that Michael wraps his own hands before sparring, but he does encourage a strong work ethic. The hard work and variety of opponents in different gyms is starting to pay dividends; Michael looks very fluid in the ring as he puts his punches together in solid combinations. Lil Warrior ended his last two fights of 2008 with a knock out. Even though in the last fight that took place in May at Morongo Casino they had an opponent switch the day before the bout. “We were preparing for a leftie for four weeks,”

said Al:” I was confused.” Michael, however, did not seem too confused and knocked out his new opponent at the end of the second round. “He took more punches than he needed to.” Al appraised his son’s last performance.

 

Most fights are won in the gym and Michael is doing the work. Last year, Franco got to go rounds with Vic Darchinyan in preparation for the fight with Nonito Donaire. Rumors around campfire are that Mike gave as well as he got in those sparring sessions.

 

Without a manager and a promoter it is difficult to keep a fighter busy and to develop him in the ring. “We just want to fight,” said Al: “We don’t care about the money.”

 

They offered part of their purse to promoters to find a decent opponent. The future seems bright for Michael “Lil Warrior “Franco on the eve of his twenty first birthday. He is scheduled to fight Javier Lagos on July 5th,2008 in Las Vegas at Planet Hollywood then again on July 23rd at Sycuan Casino  and if everything goes good again in August for the WBC youth title at 115 pounds.

 

“People are starting to call, because our word is good and we are ready to fight anybody,” said Al.

 

Michael is also picked up a couple of endorsements with Sweet Sweat and Hydro-Tone Equipment. Let’s keep our eyes out on this exciting ne prospect.