By Ryan Burton
Junior featherweight Michael "Lil Warrior" Franco (16-0) is like a lot of prospects in boxing. He sports an undefeated record and he slowly is making his ascension up the rankings ladder. Where Franco differs from most boxing prospects and most boxers in general is that he happens to have his own boxing gym. His gym in Southern California has been open less than a month and already has over 100 members. Franco speaks on his upcoming fight with Adolfo Landeros, his gym, and more in this exclusive interview found only on BoxingScene.
BoxingScene.com: Tell us about your upcoming fight with Adolfo Landeros.
Michael Franco: The fight is August 20th in Tucson, Arizona and will be on Telefutura. I really don't know too much about him. I haven't personally seen him fight but I am prepared. I have already seen what he does from other fighters I am sure. With my other fights and sparring that I have done I don't think he will do anything I haven't already seen. It is nothing I can't overcome.
BoxingScene.com: Being that you haven't seen him fight what do you think will be the key to the fight?
Michael Franco: I need to keep my jab out there as I do every fight. I need to outbox him and use long punches, quick punches, get him with hard punches. I need to be smart in the ring. I need to be attentive and pick my shots and not go in there careless.
BoxingScene.com: You haven't fought since November which is a long time for an up and coming prospect such as yourself. Why such a long layoff?
Michael Franco: We had problems with my manager. Just internal problems like that. I have honestly been in the gym every day since November. I am a gym rat. I haven't really seen as being off that long. I have done a lot of sparring too. I have been ready to fight. Other than being in the ring in an actual fight I have been doing all the training. I have been in the gym everyday. I am always in shape. Boxing is pretty much my life.
BoxingScene.com: Assuming you win this fight which will get you to 17-0, how many more fights do you think you need before you step up to top 20 competition?
Michael Franco: That is up to my promoter Don Chargin. Whatever they want to do I will be ready. Obviously right now I think I am ready for anybody. It is up to them. I am going to listen to them.
BoxingScene.com: Tell us a little bit about your amateur background.
Michael Franco: I had almost 50 amateur fights. I won the Ringside and other tournaments. I was in a lot of tournaments in my time in the amateurs. I won showdowns at home in Montebello too.
BoxingScene.com: Southern California has produced a lot of champions and has a lot of young guys coming up now. Did you fight any of the other pro prospects fans may be familiar with?
Michael Franco: Nothing is sticking out really. I can't remember anybody right now. I probably did. I need to see my book with my records. They probably remember me because I only had one loss in my amateur career. I fought on a lot of pro-am cards. I fought a lot of guys who were heavier than me. I would come in at 120 and fight guys at 130 or 140. The amateurs to me was just a learning experience. Win or lose it didn't matter. I just wanted to get better and I think that is what makes my amateur background so great. I have no fear. That is also where my nickname, "Lil Warrior" came from.
BoxingScene.com: Has your team talked about when they want to get you back in the ring after your August fight?
Michael Franco: Hopefully soon. Maybe a month after. I am ready and I want to fight a lot. Maybe a month after or even less. Whenever they schedule the next fight I will be ready. I take no breaks. I can't be out of the gym more than two days.
BoxingScene.com: I heard you opened up your own gym. Number one where is it located and number two tell us about it?
Michael Franco: It is right here in Rancho Cucamonga (California). Right off of 9445 Foothills Boulevard. It is Warriors Combat Academy. It is a great gym. It opened up about a month ago. It offers muy thai, wrestling, boxing, jiu jitsu, and most of the mixed martial arts. All of our coaches are either pro fighters or former pro fighters. We have a lot of of experience. I am putting together a good program with my father Al Franco. It is going great.
BoxingScene.com: How has the public responded? Have a lot of people signed up to train there?
Michael Franco: We have over 100 members already. It is going good. I am happy about it and hope it keeps growing. I don't know if you have noticed but when I walk in the ring I always have a Marines patch in honor of my grandfather who was a Marine. We are going to work a program out here for disabled veterans. We want to get them back on their feet and hopefully keep them active. That is another program we are working on.
BoxingScene.com: Do you have a message for the fans?
Michael Franco: I want to thank everybody for giving me their time and paying attention to my career. Feel free to contact me at warriorscombatacademy.com. I am at the gym from 8am till 9pm so come in and check it out.
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