Daniel Franco Excited About Opportunity on Ward vs. Barrera

By Francisco Salazar

Featherweight Daniel Franco understands the difference between dreaming and envisioning.

Anyone can dream, but those who envision can see a plan follow through.

That plan for Franco is to one day become a world champion. It may not happen in the short term, but Franco believes he is on the right course.

Franco will fight German Meraz tonight at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. The eight round bout will occur on the non-televised portion of the Roc Nation card.

In the main event, Andre Ward will fight Sullivan Barrera in a clash of unbeaten light heavyweights. HBO will begin the broadcast at 9:45 p.m. ET/ 6:45 p.m. PT.

Franco (12-0-3, 7 KOs), who has been a pro for over five years, has flown under the radar of sorts, but has come into his own over the last couple of years.

The Riverside-area resident, who signed a promotional deal with Roc Nation last year, will face the veteran Meraz, who is 4-4 in his last eight bouts.

"I'm excited to fight on a major card like Ward-Barrera," Franco told Boxingscene.com over the phone Thursday morning. "Fighting at the Oracle Arena, where the Golden State Warriors play. I was more nervous fighting on the last show there (on June 20) than I am for Saturday. I'm just looking forward to getting back in the ring."

Franco is coming off an eight round majority decision win over Hector Garcia on December 21 in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.

While he was victorious, and maintains an unbeaten record, Franco takes pride in what he does and looks to improve in all facets of his game.

"Even though I may score a knockout or win all the rounds of a fight, I still look at what I could do. I do that after each fight. I talk to my team and we go over what I could have done better."

That may keep the soft-spoken Franco grounded in a sport where money could waver many fighters' focus in the sport.

Franco is one of countless prospects in boxing, but the 24-year-old believes he can be a breakout star over the next couple of years.

"I've envisioned where I want to be in the sport. I've worked really hard and this is where I want to be. I know I could get better, but that's what I'm working on."

"My (boxer-puncher) style is unique and that's what is most important."

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, RingTV, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing