Dean Francis

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Dean Francis (born January 23, 1974 in Leeds ; † May 25, 2018 ) was a British professional boxer and boxing coach.

Amateur career

Dean Francis boxed as an amateur for the Southern Counties boxing club . In 1991 he retired with a bronze medal in the semi-finals of the English championships against Joe Calzaghe .

Professional career

He won his professional debut on May 28, 1994 against Darren Littlewood. After nine wins in a row, he lost to Jaffa Ballogou in October 1995 in the fight for the WBC International Super Middleweight Champion . He then won five subsequent fights and on October 19, 1996 secured the title of WBO Intercontinental Super Middleweight Champion against Rolando Torres. He defended the title against Cornelius Carr and Kit Munroe.

On July 19, 1997, he was British super middleweight champion by an early win against the undefeated David Starie, a future World Cup challenger to Joe Calzaghe. In addition, on December 19, 1997, he secured the EBU European title in the super middleweight division with a knockout victory against Frédéric Seillier . Seillier was the 1995 World Cup challenger for Frankie Liles and in 1997 for Steve Collins . In 1998 Francis was again British Champion and WBO Intercontinental Champion .

After a loss to Undra White, he retired with a shoulder injury in 1998, but returned to the ring in 2002.

In February 2006, he won the English Cruiserweight Championship and in February 2007 the Commonwealth Light Heavyweight Title by a knockout win in the first round against Ovill McKenzie. He also became IBO Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion in June 2007 with a knockout win against Ayitey Powers . He then won two title fights against Michael Gbenga and Tony Oakey.

From 2009 to 2014 he only got into the ring seven times. After a loss to Bob Ajisafe on March 15, 2014, he ended his career.

After boxing

After his active career, he became a professional boxer trainer at the Bristol Boxing Gym. He died in May 2018 at the age of 44 of complications from cancer . He was married and had one son.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Dean Francis dies aged 44. In: Sky Sports. May 25, 2018, accessed May 28, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Francis, Dean
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British boxer
DATE OF BIRTH 23rd January 1974
PLACE OF BIRTH Leeds
DATE OF DEATH May 25, 2018