Dharry calls out new world champ Franco

Elton Dharry
Elton Dharry

American, Joshua Franco unanimously defeated Andrew Moloney on Wednesday night to lift the World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Flyweight world title.

He was soon called out by Elton Dharry who also fought for the same title last November.

The Brooklyn, USA based Dharry boasted that Franco’s style perfectly suits him to become Guyana’s next world champion.

Joshua Franco

“I paid keen attention to the fight and this kid has the perfect style for me” Dharry bragged yesterday. 

“He is there to fight, he is not a runner, he is very aggressive and comes to fight.”

Dharry, 34, added “He doesn’t use much angles, he is just a straight up fighter and comes straight ahead to fight.”

Moloney claimed the world title last year in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia in a controversial ninth-round stoppage against Dharry who was dominating the fight.

Dharry was adamant that he would have gone on to win the bout barring the intervention of the ringside doctor following an eye injury. Dharry (24-6-1, 14 KO), is confident that Franco will be less of a challenge than the former champ from Down Under. 

“He has a typical Mexican style which I like. Maloney moves a bit more so I think Franco’s style is easier.”

For the title fight to become a reality, Dharry stated that he and his management team, Havoc Promotions will have to check a few proverbial boxes.

“My team is going to give it a few days and then reach out to his team, but I am calling him out and issuing a challenge. “I’m still in the top 10, I am here in the US, he is in the US, if he wants to fight, he can make it happen.”

Dharry whose professional career started in 2004 revealed that he recently restarted training and his body has ‘healed up’ considerably after fighting with injuries for the past three years.

“I will be happy if the fight happens as soon as possible, I am all healed up. I haven’t felt this healthy in a very long time.”

The Moloney/Franco card was staged without live spectators as part of a series of fight cards within a “bubble” at the MGM Grand designed to protect fighters from contracting COVID-19. Stabroek Sport will keep readers updated as Dharry continues his grueling quest to capture a world title which was within ‘reach’ just seven months ago.