Al Franklin

Name: Al Franklin
Birth Name: Alfred Eugene Franklin
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Birthplace: Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
Died: 1997-09-18 (Age:60)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 168cm
Pro Boxer: Record

He was AAU champion of Oklahoma in 1955. In his better days, Franklin was a crafty and fast-handed fighter. Always in shape, Franklin was given opportunities against many other up-and-comers, but was always hot and cold in his performances. After two close battles with Ricardo Medrano in 68', a series they split at one apiece, Franklin then took on undefeated up-and-comer Fred Jimenez and stopped him in the 4th heat. This set up another attractive local fight with Georgie Anderson in 76', stopping him as well in 4th. That victory set the table for a big showdown between Franklin and St. Paul's Gary "The Hammer" Holmgren in December of 76', a fight which had quite a build-up on the Minnesota boxing scene. Holmgren dropped him in the first round, and Al never quite recovered, losing a convincing 10-round decision. At this point in his career, Al Franklin was looked at as a saavy ring veteran of which to test the wares of the young bucks on the Minnesota scene. His fight with Rick Folstad in November of 77' was yet another big fight for Minnesota boxing. Folstad out-boxed Franklin quite easily, and Franklin looked to use his extensive record to make some last nice paydays before calling it quits. He did just that, getting fights with Aaron Pryor and Sean O'Grady before calling it a career in late 1978.

--Jake Wegner