The 140 lbs. super lightweight Cesar Francis is what the sport often refers to as a hidden gem, but not for long.

The man, who returns to the ring on Wednesday, January 25th, against hard-punching, Jesus Saracho, now sees himself as the man who will make the biggest noise in the division.

Francis has been entrusted by ProBoxTV.com to start the new year off strong with their new series of “Future Stars on Wednesdays”, in which ProBox Promotions, who has a deep stable of talent including Najee Lopez, and Marques Valle to name a few. Outside of Top Rank Inc., ProBox Promotions really invested in the future of the sport, and have some promising future contenders. The point of this show will be to bring a spotlight to young emerging fighters as the build to the point of being bonafide stars.

Yet, when Francis fights he is not a fan of superstition per say, as opening an umbrella was once thought of as bad luck, but for Francis after he wins it appears to be his calling card. An open umbrella present while the referee raises his hand.

The nickname started in jest, and morphed into a triumphant trope.

“They used to call me drizzle, and I hated it,” said Francis as it felt like a backhanded compliment for a lack of punching power. “As I got older, it turned into “The Rainman”.”

Now, Francis is a far-cry from not being regarded as a puncher as he was awarded the knockout of the year on ProBox TV, as his he is one of the brightest prospects in the company, at 29-years-old, and win over Ray Beltran, Francis is closer to being a contender than he is, a prospect as his 12-0 record with 7 wins via KO state that of a fighter looking for the big fight.

His experience growing up in New York gyms was that of trial and error. Francis recalls when he first started boxing not listening to anyone, and seeing himself in young fighters who have the same issue. His college-like experience in boxing was sparring Richard Commey someone whom he has over a hundred-plus rounds with. Francis was sparring Commey during and while Commey became the IBF lightweight world champion, and explained this is how he learned on the job as a pro.

Now Francis is ready for that moment for himself.

Once a wide-eyed young man, who entered a boxing gym without really knowing where the journey would take him is inching closer to a world title fight, fight-by-fight and with a Janaury fight, the skies the limit on his activity in 2023. Francis is now looking to forge his own path, and make his own name, and not have to explain his story, but rather tell his story in front of a large audience who wants to see him fight.

For the Panamanian, who now resides in Brooklyn, New York, it is all about living out the American Dream. The age old cliches of ‘if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere.”

Francis, who in his early fights would get in a car and drive to rural club shows with friend Chris Glover to stay active now is the tenth best 140 lbs in the United States per BoxRec.com.

As long as Francis continues to win, he i snearing the coveted word in boxing. An opportunity. That is something that everyone wants, and everyone dreams for.