Viloria: I am ready
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Aug 2006
LOS ANGELES--Brian Viloria looked impressive and sharp in his final sparring session and said he was ready to defend his World Boxing Council light flyweight belt against Omar Nino Romero of Mexico at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada Thursday (Friday in Manila).
With his power-punching right hand already completely healed after fracturing it in a fight against Jose Antonio Aguirre last February, the 25-year-old Viloria was upbeat and ecstatic about his condition and preparedness in facing the dangerous Romero, exactly 11 months after winning the WBC belt.
"I feel good and training camp has been perfect. My hand is completely healed and I am ready for Romero," said Viloria, a Hawaii-born warrior of Filipino parents. Despite breaking his right hand in the early rounds against Aguirre, the "Hawaiian Punch" fought gallantly and scored a unanimous decision victory in his first defense of his crown.
Facing a battle-tested Mexican who is at his prime and fighting for the first time in America, Viloria said he is not taking his opponent lightly as he sets his sights on win No. 20 and bigger fights ahead. His management team which includes Gary Gittelsohn and father Ben think the year 2007 would bring more blessings should he hurdle Romero.
With a fearsome record of 23-2-1 with 10 knockouts, including a knockout win against currrent WBC flyweight champion Jorge Arce early in his career 10 years ago, Romero is out to avenge the losses of many of his compatriots at the hands of Viloria and bring back the title to Mexico.
Viloria closes camp Saturday as he tapers down from rigid training weighing 110 pounds or at least two pounds above the limit of 108 lbs. His team, including trainer Freddie Roach leave for Las Vegas Monday.
Viloria, a former US Olympian, has an unblemished record of 19-0 with 12 KOs.
At the end of his sparring session, a group of Japanese mediamen took turns in interviewing Viloria inside the ring of the newly-extended and exclusive training area of the Wild Card gym which will be used by Roach's top-ranked boxers which included James Toney, Manny Pacquiao and Israel Vazquez, among others.
Of interest is a projected fight between Viloria and WBA champion Koki Kameda of Japan although both camps have not yet sounded each other. Should Viloria emerge victorious, Gittelsohn also brought up the names of Ivan Alvarez and Arce as some of the big money fights next year.
"We will fight Kameda whether in be in Japan or here in the US and that would at least unify the belts. A fight against Arce would depend if he doesn't go to 115 pounds while Calderon (the minimumweight champion) remains to be seen. Of course, we still have to hurdle Romero and we are not looking past this guy," said Gittelsohn.
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