Fast-Hanz Franklin Takes on Joshua Reyes in New York

By Ryan Maquiñana

Junior featherweight John “Fast-Hanz” Franklin takes on fellow unbeaten prospect Joshua Reyes Friday night on the undercard of a ShoBox event in Verona, N.Y., and the former Army sergeant from Kansas City, Mo., spoke to BoxingScene.com about his fight, his military service, and what he hopes to accomplish in pro boxing.

BoxingScene.com: How do you go from being a sergeant in the Army to professional prizefighting?

John Franklin: I came up through the Missouri National Guard.  After three weeks of basic training, we got stationed in Oklahoma for a year.  I took up boxing and sparred someone with way more experience than me, and I did really well.  I started winning tournaments, and even though I volunteered to go to Kuwait, they ended up sending me to the [U.S. Army’s] World Class Athlete Program until I was honorably discharged.

BoxingScene.com: Do you regret not going to Kuwait?

John Franklin: I definitely don’t regret it.  Deployments come with your job, and I was ready for it, but I got to represent the Army worldwide in a whole different light.

BoxingScene.com: So far you’re 4-0 with two knockouts.  At age 29, however, you’re going to have to move faster with your career than other prospects.  What do you know about Joshua Reyes, who’s also 4-0 (1 KO)?

John Franklin: I’ve signed with AASHA Record Breakers, and Steven Badgley and Greg Sorrentino have been doing a great job with me so far.  They’ve been holding a lot of nationally televised shows at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, like this one.  I don’t know too much about him, so this is going to be an O.J.T. type of fight.

BoxingScene.com: O.J.T.?

John Franklin: On the job training.  I’m not worried about it though.  I’ve been training in Colorado Springs with Sergeant Joe Guzman and Coach [Charles Leverette].  I’ve sparred fast guys like Rau’shee Warren and bigger veterans like Terrance Cauthen, so I’m ready for whatever style he brings.

BoxingScene.com: Where do you see yourself at the end of the year?

John Franklin: I want to be as active as I can.  Hopefully if I can win this one without any injuries, my team has been talking about getting me a spot on the June 21 ESPN Friday Night Fights card in Minnesota.

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com, check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.