Let’s be frank, he’s a champ

The Randgate Boxing Club once again produced a South African boxer.

Francisco ‘Frank’ Rodriguez, a Randfontein youngster who has lived in the town his whole life is just 19 years old but wins fights against men twice his size and age.

Frank recently achieved the title of SA Champion at a competition that took place between 6 and 12 July.

In the semi-final, I won the fight by technical knockout within the first 40 seconds against a fighter from Limpopo who was approximately five years older than I. In the final I went all three rounds with every round going in my favour. The fighter was about 35 or so and I won,” he said as he explained what happened in his last two fights.

Frank fights in the Super Heavyweight Class and weighs 91kg. He has been boxing competitively for six years, which he has spent honing his skills at the Randgate Boxing Club. His coach is Willie Gonsalves who also was selected a SA boxing coach.

This young champion boxer not only has a natural ability in the boxing ring, he also went to compete in the SAs for wrestling when he was seven years old.

When asked what his secret is, he said,

There is no secret. I neither eat special food nor drink protein shakes. I just box well.”

When asked if he had a secret training regimen he jokingly said, “I don’t like to train much, I just like to box. I will jog a bit when I know I have a fight coming up and will eat regular food while lifting weights for some speed,” he said.

Frank’s favourite boxer is Floyd Mayweather and he sees a career in boxing for himself in the future. He plans to turn pro next year.