VILORIA AIMS TO CEMENT HIS LEGACY IN MARQUEZ UNIFICATION TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 Nov 2012
In a battle of champions WBO flyweight king Brian Viloria faces Mexico?s WBA flyweight champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez with Viloria eager to cement his legacy as one of the great fighters in the lower weight divisions which, despite the action-packed classics, have failed to get the attention of the big networks such as HBO and Showtime.
The Viloria-Marquez showdown at the Los Angeles Sports Arena which will be telecast in the Philippines by GMA 7 with ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao as one of the members of the TV panel has added interest for Filipinos as world rated Drian Franciso is also featured on the card against Mexico?s squat Javier Gallo adding spice to the storied Philippine-Mexican ring rivalry.
Viloria, who is trained by the celebrated Hall-of-Famer Freddie Roach and former world champion Robert Garcia who handles Marquez, have indicated it should be a terrific fight with both Viloria and Marquez indicating they plan to fight aggressively from the opening bell.
Their final press conference got a little testy when Marquez took a dig at Viloria who sometimes dances the hula after a big win, telling him "You will have no victory or dance because I will be taking those two belts to Mexico."
But Viloria confidently said "I know all of Tyson?s moves and I have the ideal style to beat him because Marquez is always coming forward and his movements are very predictable. I?m going to do my work, going to box with class, with intelligence, and I?ll win the fight round by round. At the end I?ll do my Hawaiian dance like I do every time I win.?
Viloria, a three-time, two division world champion is coming off three statement fights highlighted by a smashing 8th round TKO against pound-for-pound ranked Giovanni Segura and plans ?to just let my hands go? against the hard-hitting Marquez.
Viloria told the Manila Standard he feels great ?just like I was against (Giovanni) Segura? whom he battered and bruised giving referee Samuel Viruet no choice but to call a halt at 29 seconds of the 8th round after Segura developed a huge, ugly lump on the right side of his forehead and was taking a bad beating on December 11, 2011.
The 31 year old WBO champion told us he is ?mentally and physically fine, perfect and ready to go. I wish the fight was today.?
Viloria who has a record of 31-3 with 18 knockouts has made it clear ?I just want to be known as one of the top fighters in my generation and maybe in the eyes of the Filipinos and all the fight fans, I just want to make my mark before I take a bow.?
Viloria also said he was very happy that at last they found an opponent for Francisco and that he will see action on the same card.
Francisco, after weeks of uncertainty on who his opponent was and mind games played by Zanfer Promotions who didn?t even inform the Filipino fighter or his trainer Justin Fortune where the weigh-in would be staged, said he is not bothered by the tactics and would ?go for a knockout if he sees an opening.?
In a conversation with reporter Jayson Otamias, Francisco said that while he would love to go for a knockout he ?will be careful and protect myself.?
Trainer Fortune described Francisco as ?a nice kid who is strong and has an awkward style but can punch with unbelievable power.?
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