By Brent Matteo Alderson
On November 28, 2008, United States Olympic team alternate Malcolm “Fast Hands” Franklin is turning professional at the Double Tree Hotel in Ontario California on a card promoted by Thompson boxing.
Franklin is 19-years-old and was one of the nation’s most accomplished amateurs. He was a 2004 and 2005 Ringside world champion as well as a 2005 PAL national champion. Malcolm represented the United States this summer in Beijing as an alternate at 106 pounds, but according to his advisor, Dino Thompson, “plans on winning his first championship in the flyweight division.”
Numerous boxing insiders are excited about the youngster from Southern California. Robert Diaz, matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions commented that “Malcolm reminded him of a young Shane Mosley” and Business advisor/manager Al Hayman stated that Franklin “has a pro-style.”
Malcolm is currently in Florida training with John David Jackson in preparation for his professional debut. Malcolm is one of the former amateur stars that Thompson boxing is promoting on their monthly series that has been entitled “New Blood.” The title of the series is a reference to the fact that the promotional company is trying to develop a new group of fighters to follow in the foot-steps of Chris Arreola and Timothy Bradley, two world class fighters that came up on Thompson boxing cards.
Brent Matteo Alderson, a graduate of UCLA, has been part of the staff at BoxingScene.com since 2004. Alderson's published work has appeared in publications such as Ring Magazine, KO, World Boxing, Boxing 2008, and Latin Boxing Magazine. Alderson has also been featured on the ESPN Classic television program “Who’s Number One?” Please e-mail any comments to BoxingAficionado@aol.com
