Unbeaten Dominique Francis believes he is closer to boxing’s elite than many realize as the 16-0 super featherweight contender prepares for his return under the Zuffa Boxing banner.

Francis has stopped 10 opponents during his professional career and will return on July 26 against Hector Andres Sosa at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York on Paramount+.

The Miami native has been out of action since his fourth-round knockout of Julio Carrera Lugo in October 2024, but Francis insists the time away from the ring has not changed his belief or his approach.

Speaking exclusively to World Boxing News on the eve of the fight, Francis explained why he does not fear inactivity, why he believes Zuffa has changed opportunities for fighters, and why he feels the world champions are closer than many expect.

Francis Refuses To Blame The Layoff

Francis does not believe a layoff of that nature automatically affects a fighter’s ability if the work continues behind the scenes.

“It ain’t change my mindset. You seen Floyd Mayweather fight Juan Manuel Márquezhe took 21 months off of boxing,” Francis told WBN.

“At the same time, with me, you know what I’m saying, he was as sharp as he, like sharpest he ever was. I don’t believe in all that. If you working and you inside the gym, you alright.”

Zuffa Gives Fighters More Opportunities

Francis believes joining Zuffa provides a valuable platform for fighters, but he knows his own preparation remains his responsibility.

“It’s very important, but you know, they going they going to handle that. It’s just me to do my job: stay in the gym, stay in shape, stay healthy, you know what I mean, so whenever I get a call, we can make it happen.”

The 16-0 contender is also excited about competing on Paramount+ and believes the boxing landscape is changing.

“Oh man, very I’m very thankful for this opportunity, man. The landscape changed a lot, man, ’cause you know, now you have more fighters that have opportunity now.

“They have places to go, you know what I mean? So the landscape changed a lot, they have places to go, and that’s a great thing for us fighters, man.”

Francis was pleased with his last performance against Lugo but is not looking back as he prepares for the next stage of his career.

“My last performance was good. It was a it was a good performance, but that don’t matter no more, you know what I mean? ‘Cause now it’s about this performance.”

“I’m Closer Than I Even Think”

Francis has clear ambitions for the next 12 months and believes continued improvement will put him in position for bigger opportunities.

“I want to be prosperity, to keep learning, and I want growth, definitely growth, as long as you keep going. So keep prospering and keep learning and keep growing. For sure, for sure.”

When asked about his distance from the world champions, Francis made it clear that he believes he belongs closer to the top than many might expect.

“I’m closer than I even think, and I know that. ‘Cause I be seeing a lot of things that I’ll see on TV with the top guys, whatever like that, but they’re just normal guys, man.

“They just normal guys that put in the hard work. And one thing about me, I’m a guy that put in the hard work, and I have the talent, skills, and ability.”

No Distractions Ahead Of Return

Francis believes his latest training camp has given him the ideal foundation before his return.

“This training camp was beautiful, coaching, um trajectory was very well, no distractions. No distractions at all, great recovery and understanding.”

The 25-year-old now gets the chance to prove his confidence inside the ring, with the unbeaten contender believing the next stage of his career can bring him closer to the biggest names in boxing.

Former IBF welterweight world champion, Kell Brookhas previously called for a domestic dust-up with Conor Benn. Now, ‘Special K’ has predicted how Benn will fare in his first world title challenge, against WBC titleholder, Ryan Garcia.

Benn and Brook were linked to a bout in May 2023, when the pair were pulled apart in a ringside confrontation in Dublinbut the fight never materialised, partly due to the fact that Benn had relinquished his BBBofC license following his infamous failed drugs test.

Instead, Benn twice fought stateside as a super-welterweight and then twice boxed fierce rival Chris Eubank J as a middleweight, before announcing plans to return to the welterweight division and challenge for world honours.

On his way back down to 147lbs, Benn entered the ring against Regis Prograis earlier this year in a 150lb catchweight contest and underwhelmed, but still he has landed his title shot, with a fight against Garcia now formally confirmed.

Speaking on the Fight Your Corner PodcastKell Brook looked ahead to the fight and admitted that whilst he gives Benn ‘a good chance’, he feels as though the power of Garcia means that a win for the Californian is more likely.

“I give him [Benn] a good chance, but I do lean towards Garcia winning the fight, I do. In his last fight he boxed well but in the fight before, he didn’t box so good. I just think that he will rise to the occasion, they are champions and I think that we are going to see the best of both of ‘em.

“I just think that Garcia has got that get-out-of-jail card. When I boxed Shawn Porter, I went to Vegas to finish some sparring off and I was some sparring with some good kids. I put it onto this kid and had a really good spar, I was punching hard.

“We had something to eat after and I said, who is the biggest puncher you’ve been to, don’t forget I’m a lot older than Garcia, and he said, ‘I have never been hit as hard as by Ryan Garcia,’. That punch power that he has got, that snap [is impressive].”

Garcia-Benn takes place on Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia expected to appear on the undercard.

Tyson Fury has raised serious concerns over his proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua.

After over a decade of build-up, Fury and Joshua finally look set to meet later this year, provided that both men can first come through their respective warm-up bouts this weekend.

Fury takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, before Joshua then meets Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia 24 hours laterseemingly paving the way for the all-British showdown at the end of 2026.

‘The Gypsy King’ still doesn’t seem convinced that it will happen though, as he shared his doubts whilst speaking to IFL TV.

“Until that fight happens and we’re walking to the ring, I’m not convinced it does. 100% [I’m doubtful].

I can never see that stiff sitting on a table with me ever. What the f**k is he going to say? I can never see him at a press conference with me, it would be a bombardment. I can never see him taking that.

“He wouldn’t even get in the ring [after the Makhmudov fight]. He s**t himself and sat on a stool outside and didn’t even want to get up and build the fight and make the fight happen when Turki said to us both ‘come on boys let’s do it get in the ring and make it happen.’

“He didn’t want to do it, so how is he going to come face to face with me at a press conference? I think he’s a bottle job, a flapper, a chinless wonder as well.”

Despite Fury’s fears, all signs still point towards the fight taking place later this year, though there still remains a debate over where it will be held.