Frank returns with first round KO
-aims at world title in 12 months
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
November 23, 2003
Following a hiatus of almost 30 months Guyanese boxer Raul Frank returned to the ring last Saturday with old fury to win his comeback fight in the first round.
Frank took only one minute, 35 seconds to knock out Colombian Alex Corilla Villa in Miami Beach, Florida two Saturdays ago and improve his record to 24-4-1 (with 13 knockouts).
"I want everyone to know that I'm back to reclaim what is rightfully mine," the 33-year-old said in a telephone interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday.
"The boss is back and ready to take the title as the best fighter from the Caribbean since Mike McCallum." Describing the brief encounter with the Colombian Frank explained that it was over in almost a `wink'.
"I dropped him with left uppercut. He got up and the referee stopped the contest after I nailed him with a flurry of punches." Frank moved up from welterweight to the junior middleweight division for Saturday's bout and trained at the Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn before moving to Miami.
Before Saturday Frank's last bout was on May 12, 2001 when he lost a 12 round decision to Vernon Forrest in a challenge for the vacant Inter-national Boxing Federation welterweight title.
That was the second encounter he had with Forrest. The first, held in Las Vegas on August 26, 2000 ended in a technical draw after a clash of heads in round three.
The Guyanese blamed promotional and managerial problems for his absence from the ring but claimed that all that is now behind him. He is now promoted by Top American Promotions.
"Right now I'm being trained by Howard Davis. He has shown me something that I was not aware of in my 18 years in the sport. I will now remain as a junior middleweight. I'm back on the road to claim what's really mine," Frank said.
The gritty boxer declared that his aim is to fight for, and win a world title within the next 12 months. "Right now we are going for another tune up fight then move up to fight for the USBA or one of the lesser world titles. That would put me in line for a major title," Frank disclosed.
Questioned about his views on a rematch with Forrest Frank said that it is foremost in his mind. "Actually I have a score to settle with Forrest.
When we last fought my corner misguided me. They told me that I was ahead on points and that was not the case. I'm still feel hurt whenever I remember that but I'm still around today and will be for a long time."