VILORIA DOESN?T WANT TO DEFEND HIS TITLE AGAINST A FILIPINO IF HE CAN HELP IT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 01 May 2012
WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria doesn?t want to defend his title against another Filipino fighter if he can help it.
In answer to a question from the Manila Standard about how he feels about fighting any of his countrymen ranked by the WBO such as undefeated No.1 Milan Melindo, undefeated No. 2 Froilan ?The Sniper? Saludar and OPBF champion and No. 4 ranked Rocky Fuentes, Viloria said ?I don?t know. It's tough fighting against fellow Filipino fighters. But in the sport of boxing especially as a world champion it?s a business and we have to go up against each other and if we have to go up against each other you really can?t do much.?
Viloria noted that the Mexicans ?fight each other all the time and that?s what we have to do first and then we?ll be friends later but if I see another Filipino fighter across the ring from me I?m going to have to do my job and fight and that?s what the other fighter has to do.?
He said some of the best fighters are Filipino fighters while the Mexicans do it all the time and they show some of the best boxing against each other. It's going to be tough but it?s the name of the sport and if you have to fight against your own you are going to have to do it but I would rather not.?
Viloria said maybe the Filipinos could go after titles in the different world organizations but maintained that while he doesn?t want to face a fellow Filipino in the ring ?there?s no choice and we?re going to have to do it.?
Currently WBO No. 1 ranked Melindo is ranked No. 7 by the WBC, No. 9 by the WBA and No. 12 by the IBF while Saludar is No. 2 in the WBO rankings and No. 8 by both the WBC and the IBF.
WBO No, 4 ranked Fuentes is ranked No. 3 by both the WBC and the IBF and No. 5 by the WBA.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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