Francisco Bojado
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Francisco Bojado (born May 11, 1983) is a professional boxer at the international level. A native of Guadalajara, Mexico, Bojado's nickname is Panchito.
Bojado represented Mexico at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. He is said to have begged the officials to let him participate at the games' opening ceremonies, held the day before his first fight at the competition. (as claimed by him). He also befriended members of the Russian women's track and field team who would play computer games with him.
Bojado lost in the second qualifying round at the games. Disappointed at losing what he felt should have been a win, he returned home with his eyes set on turning professional. Shortly after, he was signed by Shelly Finkel, a man who has also managed Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, among many others. Finkel soon helped Bojado sign a multi-fight deal with cable television channel Showtime.
On January 13 of 2001, he debuted (in the professional circuit), beating Derrick Castor by knockout in the second round at Uncasville, Connecticut. He followed that victory with eight more knockout wins, including wins over veterans Mauro Lucero, Glenn Forde and Eleazar Contreras. But on February 16, 2002, also at Uncasville, he was upset by Juan Carlos Rubio, who beat him by a ten round decision. This temporarily derailed Bojado's championship dreams, but he has posted 3 more wins since that defeat.
Many ringsiders and critics speculate as of what would happen in a fight between Bojado and another fellow Jr. Welterweight contender, Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto. Others have gone further than that, expressing desire to see Bojado already challenging world Jr. Welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu of Australia.
On January 24, 2004, Bojado defeated experienced Emmanuel Clottey in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
On July 24, however, he suffered another setback, when former world Jr. Lightweight champion Jesse James Leija beat him by a split ten round decision.
Bojado's record is of 15 wins and 2 losses, with 12 wins by knockout.