“Sa ganda ng ensayo namin confident ako na mananalo,” Drian Francisco said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. “Sisikapin kong tapusin sa anim na rounds.”

Unheralded Filipino fighter Drian Francisco is giving Panama’s Ricardo Nuñez a shelf life of six rounds when they collide Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in an elimination bout where the winner may get a crack at the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title.

“Sa ganda ng ensayo namin confident ako na mananalo,” Francisco said during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum. “Sisikapin kong tapusin sa anim na rounds.”

Nuñez arrived last Friday to get used to the hot and humid weather with trainer Francisco Arroyo and strength coach Gustavo Cervantes and Carlos Costa, a hardcore boxing fan.

Nuñez parades a 17-1 slate with 15 knockouts and comes with a mission of avenging the defeat of a compatriot to Francisco last year.

Francisco, 27, who has an unblemished record of 18-0-1 with 14 knockouts, last fought in October 2009, stopping Roberto Vazquez at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Since arriving in the country, Nuñez, according to Francisco’s manager Elmer Anuran, has opted to train indoors.

Anuran said Nuñez is billeted at the Holiday Inn-Ortigas Center and he has made use of the hotel’s facilities rather than go elsewhere to work out.

Francisco has trained diligently for this fight and is looking forward to a sensational win, said his well-traveled cornerman Benny Dela Peña.

“Kaya namin ang kalaban,” said Dela Peña.