Interim WBA World Super Flyweight Champion Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco (28-4-1, 22KO) heads back to the ring next week in Makati City.
The card is promoted by Joven Sports Promotions.
The 34-year old former titleholder is slated to face former IBF Pan Pacific Champion Mateo Handig (13-12) in his return, after more than a year since his last fight. “Gintong Kamao” will attempt to bounce back since his unanimous decision loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2015 for the vacant WBC International Silver Super Bantamweight title.
“Pinaghandaan ko yung pagbabalik ko kasi one year eh. After ng pagkatalo ko kay Rigondeaux, nakita ng mga tao yung mga kakayanan ko. Excited na ako ipakita yung pinagpaguran ko nung nakalipas na taon,” Francisco told Tiebreaker Times.
Aside from Francisco, former Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga (3-0) will be fighting on the same card.
Coming off a successful 2016 in which he went undefeated, Barriga looks to continue his winning ways as he faces Jeven Villacite (4-5-4) in the undercard.
Villacite, on the other hand, tries to even his record after defeating Masazumi Furuwaka of Japan in Cavite last September of 2016.
The fights will be held at the Makati Cinema Square in Makati City on Saturday, February 18, at 4:00pm.
