Francisco blows first title defense

PETCHABURI, Thailand—Drian Francisco failed to knock out Thailand’s Terrapith Singwancha as promised and suffered an even more humiliating unanimous decision loss in his first defense of the WBA interim super flyweight crown Saturday.

Francisco had the Thai fighter on queer street in the eighth round but Terrapith survived the onslaught and then finished strong to win before a wildly cheering crowd at an open-field arena in Muang district here.

“He was groggy but managed to survive,” said Francisco in Filipino, who was given a standing ovation for his courageous display.

“I strongly believe that I’ll come back and learn from this defeat,” added Francisco, who tasted his first defeat in 21 fights.

Judges Raul Cais Jr. and Francisco Martinez both favored the Thai at 114-113 but the big surprise was the 117-111 tally by Japanese Takeshi Shimakawa.

A left cross by Terrapith (16-0-2, 10 KOs) floored the hard-fighting Francisco, of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro, in the final minute of the third round.

Showing no ill-effects of the early knockdown, the 28-year-old Francisco boxed aggresively until the eighth, when he caught Terrapith with uppercuts.

The pride of Touch Gloves Boxing Gym in Agoncillo, Batangas, was ahead in the judges’ scorecards at that point but he lost the next four rounds despite excellent counterpunching.

“It was a good fight. Your boxer was very courageous,” said Terrapith through an interpreter.

Saved by the Bell Promotions president and promoter Elmer Anuran said he will map out Francisco’s next move.