Raul Frank returns to the ring March 22

Guyana Chronicle
March 6, 2003

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From Isaiah Chappelle in New York in association with BWIA, Swiss House Cambio and Kashif & Shanghai Organisation
AFTER a two-year hiatus, former world title contender Raul Frank will be back in the ring this month as he starts the climb for another title crack.

Chronicle Sport found Frank working out at the world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, New York.

“The party’s still going on,” Frank declared.

Frank has not been in the ring since he lost to Vernon Forest at Madison Square Garden in 2001 for the then vacant World Boxing Council welterweight title under promoter Don King.

“I decided to do out the contract with Don King, which expires this March,” Frank explained.

Frank added: “Once you’re not on top, he (Don King) does not think about you and I need to go on with my career.”

The Guyanese has since linked up with English-based promoter Frank Warren and will be back in the ring on March 22 in Las Vegas. The opponent is not yet known.

Frank has moved up to 154 lb, with which he is more comfortable and may even go up to 160.

“One reason I lost to Forest was that I could not make the weight. Right now I am looking to see at which weight I am stronger,” Frank disclosed.

Frank’s record now stands at 26 wins, four losses and one draw. His loss to Forest was his first since 1991 when he met Michael Benjamin at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The former world title contender is training under Panama Lewis, the man credited with bringing back Mike Tyson.

Frank’s comeback is going so well that Shane Mosley turned him down for Raul Marquez.

“We’ve got big things in store. I was promised that as long as I keep winning, I will go for a title crack after a couple of fights,” Frank said.

Frank recalled that he still has the USABA welterweight belt, which he won in 1997, when he also won the Fighter-of-the-Year award.

While the 32-year old Frank works on his comeback, his younger brother Ron is making ripples in the amateur ring. The 21-year-old is in the New York Golden Gloves championship and is a favourite to win the annual tournament now in progress. He is under his older brother Steve and former world title contender Patrick Ford.

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