Dominique Francis (right) lands a punch on Braian Arguello – Photo by Nelson Quispe – Boxeo de Primera
Dominique Francis admits that he looks up to several fighters, but being the best version of himself is what will make him successful in the sport.
Francis will face Julio Carrera Lugo tonight at Adventist Health (aka the Stockton) Arena in Stockton, California. The 10-round bout will feature the main event between lightweight contender Gabriel Flores Jr. and preceded by Dennis Contreras.
Both fights will be streamed live on BLK Prime (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
At Friday’s weigh-in, both Francis and Carrera weighed in at 130.8 pounds.
The Francis-Carrera fight is an intriguing clash between two undefeated fighters, with the winner moving into contender status with an impressive win over the other. Francis (15-0, 9 knockouts) believes he has the tools to not only win, but turn heads and make the junior lightweight division take notice.
“I’m a boxer, but I’m a boxer who’s also a thinker and a pugilist,” Francis told The Ring on Thursday. “I am someone who is a master of my art. I study and look up to fighters like ‘Sweat Pea’ (Pernell Whitaker), Floyd (Mayweather), Sugar Ray (Leonard), Roy Jones, Jr., Bernard Hopkins, Andre Ward, Chris Algieri. They are a master of their craft. They are a master of their true talent.
“I’m studying all those guys, but I’m going to stay.” I always found me, and I’m going to continue that Saturday.”
Francis, who lives in Opa-Locka, Fla., will square off against a fighter in Carrera (18-0-1, 14 KOs), a native of Navojoa, Mexico. Both have faced average opposition or craftsmen so far in their careers.
The 23-year-old believes he has been through more adversity than Carrera, which could give him a psychological edge going into tonight’s fight.
“I don’t know too much about my opponent,” said Francis, who is managed by Andrew Smith and trained by Derik Santos and father Smith Francis. “I can’t underestimate anyone, including him. I just go in there and do my best. I have been doing this as a pro since 2018.
“I fought all over the world, besides the USA I fought in Argentina, Mexico and Colombia. I have encountered all types of fighters. I had nothing on my side. In Argentina I had to wait and warm up in a tent outside the freezing arena. It was 30 degrees. But it’s the toughness I need. It strengthens and shapes you into a stronger fighter.”
Francis last fought on April 6 in Naucalpan, Mexico, defeating Uriel Lopez Juarez by unanimous decision. The win came less than 10 months after Francis overcame a knockdown to win a hard-fought decision over Brian Arguello, which took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
With a deep division at 130 pounds, Francis believes he can make a statement at Carrera’s expense and make the fighters in the division take notice.
“I’m already a contender at 130 pounds. However, I am going to open their eyes. I’m going to be like (Terence) Crawford, where he was slept on before people started taking notice earlier in his career. I put in the work and I’m going to make a statement with a ‘W.’ Every fight is different, but I go in with the mentality to win, either by knockout or I don’t knock him out.
“Despite the opponent, I’m going to stay. I’m always going to be me. It’s a winning combination.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at (email protected)
