Joshua Franco’s Journey from San Antonio to World Champ

Joshua Franco’s Journey from San Antonio to World Champ

Texas native Joshua “El Professor” Franco captured the WBA super flyweight title after a rugged five-year journey with a studious approach not meant for the weak-minded.

“It’s a great feeling. I’m blessed to have a world title and I’m blessed to finally getting that support,” said Franco.

Under the umbrella of the coronavirus pandemic Franco (17-1-2) ventured to Las Vegas and stripped the WBA title from Australia’s Andrew Moloney (21-1) with a unanimous decision win. It capped an adventurous road filled with bloody wars, draws and a loss.

But on June 23, referee Tony Weeks raised the hand of Franco who was better prepared for yet another war against an undefeated fighter.

Ring toughness has become a staple for at least one California-based promotion company.

“I give a lot of credit to Roberto Diaz for the matchmaking and the way he brought Franco along. He was matched pretty tough,” said Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions. “He has a loss and a couple of draws, but I think that’s the reason he won the fight.”

It was a long-planned strategy for the San Antonio fighter who arrived in 2015 along with fellow gym buddy Hector Tanajara. Super flyweights seldom get noticed by boxing fans. But even as an amateur, experts saw something in Franco.

Robert Garcia spotted the two San Antonio fighters who were amateurs. After looking at videos the pair were signed by the former super featherweight world champion as a manager and trainer.

“We fought in a PAL tournament in Oxnard. He had asked me for videos. After they saw it we started talking. It didn’t take too long. Robert was talking to promoters about me and Hector. That’s how it started,” said Franco about his signing with Garcia.

Golden Boy Promotions was called and the fighters met with the Los Angeles-based group to discuss strategy.

“It’s a great feeling to have a plan and sit down together with the fighter and his team to make them champions,” said Gomez about their initial meetings with Franco and his management. “Hopefully they become stars and move on to even better fights, unification fights. Move up in weight. It’s a great feeling building something together.”

From the start the heady Franco was matched tough in small shows in downtown Los Angeles. The Belasco Theater was the site for many of his early excursions into the pro world.

“Coming out of amateurs I had to adjust to having different smaller gloves. But I was sparring with Carlos Cuadras, Abner Mares when I had only one or two pro fights,” said Franco about his early days as a professional. “Sparring with them really helped me a lot and gave me a lot of experience. They are world champions and I’m very blessed to have had that.”

Unlike most young pros Franco’s fights were televised and seen throughout the Southwest region including his home state Texas.

“It was a blessing to be able to fight on Estrella TV, to get that exposure as a super flyweight it was a blessing. We don’t get that kind of exposure in Texas. But everyone in San Antonio they were watching supporting me and Hector. It’s a good feeling to have everyone’s support.”

Defining Moment

One battle in particular boosted his confidence and it took place in Texas.

“It was in Dallas I had fought Bryan Bazan on the Canelo-Liam Smith undercard. That was the first time I had really felt real power and that somebody could pop. I don’t know what happened in that fight but something inside me turned a switch on. I started letting my hands go, everything started coming naturally and I got a really big knockout on that card and that’s how I started getting exposure,” said Franco about his pivotal fight on September 2016. “That’s the fight that really made me bite down and show everything that I had – my distance, my jab, my power, it opened up people’s eyes as well.”

Franco would proceed to open more eyes with three brutal clashes in a year’s span against Oscar Negrete that resulted in two draws and one victory. Television audiences and those in attendance were mesmerized by the violent exchanges.

When the coronavirus pandemic shut down boxing for several months promoters were left scrambling for available talent. Top Rank was the first to open up the door for American prizefighting and invited Franco to one of their cards.

“Carl Moretti reached out and I have a great relationship with him and he reached out and he offered a couple of fights and one of them was the Franco fight and we accepted it,” said Gomez about the offer from Moretti, the vice president of Operations for Top Rank.

Franco said he received notice seven weeks in advance.

“When my dad called, right away I said, let’s do it. I’m ready. Let’s go for it,” said Franco about receiving news of the title bid. “I got my flight out the next day and then I was back in Riverside.”

Fighting in Las Vegas under the new protocols was an experience for Franco, but once inside the boxing ring everything fell into place.

Moloney was fighting for the first time as the WBA titlist and was undefeated with 14 knockouts in 21 fights. Though Las Vegas odds-makers favored the champion from Australia, smart money saw Franco’s experience as a major obstacle. They were correct.

Franco was able to weather the early storm by Moloney who attempted to power through the American fighter’s defense. But early on it was apparent that the San Antonio native’s experience against elite boxers in sparring and in actual fights was proving too perplexing for the Aussie.

An 11^th round knockdown finalized the tilt toward Franco’s favor. All three judges scored it for Franco but closer than expected after the impressive performance.

“He was different from (Oscar) Negrete that’s for sure. I kind of expected more from him. I really didn’t see anything special about him,” said Franco about Moloney. “I know he had a world title and I was just there to take it from him.”

Social media erupted with news of Franco’s win for the world title.

“It shows when you’re dedicated and work hard you can definitely reach your goals and dreams,” said multi-division world champion Mikey Garcia on social media. “Now he’s a world champ.”

The plaudits did not stop there.

“After the fight Robert Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya both messaged me and said great job. Oscar told me to enjoy yourself responsibly and get ready for the next one to defend the title. That was some motivation from De La Hoya. I know I made everyone proud at Golden Boy. I brought them back a world title and that’s a good feeling,” says Franco.

A rematch clause will be respected and both will meet again in the boxing ring.

“He had a rematch clause before we signed the fight and hopefully we get to do it again. I don’t see it going the distance this time,” said Franco citing his experience and resume in the recent past including wars against Negrete and others.

His promoters agree.

“He’s been in some tough fights. I’m very happy and proud of Joshua Franco,” said Gomez adding that the rugged journey was meant for a reason. “When you have those tough fights it only makes you better.”

Now Franco has the WBA super flyweight world title.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank

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