Luis Franco (27 yrs old)former cuban champ recently arrived to Miami and is ready to begin his pro career...didnt make the cut to the last olympics because was suspected he wanted to defect(they were damn right!).Lost championship once to Gamboa and to Rigondeaux. His debut in Miami soon at 126 lbs...i dont know much about this kid but the cuban team is getting bigger.
here is an article on it , this guyy says he is the best defector since joel because his style is suited for the pros new article about luis franco HOLLYWOOD, FL, June 14 – One of the best amateur boxers to hail from Cuba in the past decade, 2004 Olympian Luis Franco has defected to the United States and has his sights set on a professional world championship. To help him get to the top, Franco has inked an exclusive co-promotional deal with Seminole Warriors Boxing and Bad Dog Productions, with his professional debut to take place at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Friday, July 31st. “Cuba has a rich boxing history, from Kid Chocolate to Kid Gavilan and Joel Casamayor,” said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing. “We believe Luis Franco has the talent and potential to do big things in the coming years, and we’re proud to have him on our roster,” Richard Dobal of Bad Dog Productions adds; “As a Cuban-American, I follow the Cuban Olympic Boxing Team very closely. What jumps out and separates Luis Franco from the recent group that defected from Cuba is his boxing style, which is more suited to the professional game. Because of that, Luis Franco may be the best prospect to come out of Cuba in years.” A stellar amateur with over 400 fights to his name, the 27-year old Franco won the world junior championship in 2000 and competed in the 2004 Olympics. In 2008, Franco earned another Olympic berth, but was removed from the team due to fears that he would defect. Franco did decide to leave his home country in 2009, choosing to better his family’s life by competing in the professional boxing ranks. With a wife and child who both still live in Cuba, Franco – who will compete in the 126-pound featherweight division – is eager to do his family proud by eventually earning a world championship belt and adding his name to the roster of Cuban boxing greats. An opponent for Franco’s professional debut on July 31st will be announced at a later date.
There is a video available on youtube. It was in Athen against the now ranked number 5-6 of the WBC, WBA Vitali Tajbert. Typical Cuban school, great speed, and boxing fundamentals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpCxxOlwPCM Where the hell was Yuriorkis and "Cyclon promotions", they should have taken Franco in their team. He has both talent and youth
i think they were trying to sign him since he was first seen with gamboa when he first got to miami but of course man ciclon cannot compete with warriors, im actually glad he signed eith warriors
