BRIAN VILORIA STAKES IBF CROWN

VILORIA: Fighting in Hawaii for the first time in six years

By Gerry Ramos

THIS one’s a title fight Brian Viloria can’t afford to lose. Definitely, not in front of an expected, sell-out crowd rooting for its hometown hero.

In his first ever championship fight in the island paradise he considered his birthplace, Viloria stakes his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown against Mexican challenger Jesus Iribe in a 12-round championship bout at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The 28-year old Viloria (25-2, with 15 Kos) is making the first defense of the 108-pound title he wrested from durable Mexican Ulises Solis with a stunning 11th round knockout at the Araneta Coliseum last April.

Now settling in Waipahu, Viloria is fighting in Hawaii for the first time in six years since an eight round technical knockout win over Valentin Leon at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel in April 2003.

Viloria, a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic boxing team whose parents are Filipinos, has also fought at the same Blaisdell Arena Center early in his career, a short first round demolition of Sandro Orlando Oviedo in May 2002.

He guarantees to relive those memorable moments with a notable showing against the dangerous Iribe before an expected sellout, partisan crowd.

“I’m very happy to be fighting him in Hawaii,” said Viloria. “That way I can take the belt home with me.”

During the official weigh-in of the boxing card dubbed ‘Island Assault’ and promoted by Solar Sports, Viloria came in at 107.5 pounds, while the challenger from Sinaloa, Mexico needed to shed half a pound to tip at exactly 108 in his second try at the scale.

Still, Iribe (15-5, 9 KOs) remains confident of winning the fight and dethroning the champion in his second shot at a world title.

“I’m here to win that belt and take it back with me,” said Iribe, fighting outside of Mexico for the first time.

Despite teeming with confidence, both fighters acknowledge the respect they had for each other.

Said Iribe, “Viloria is a very strong fighter and I have to be very cautious with what I'm doing.

"He likes to jab — he has a good jab — but he doesn't like to go inside," Viloria said for his part. "I have to put my combinations together and use my speed to my advantage."

The title fight incidentally, is also the first in Hawaii in 33 years since Filipino Ben Villaflor and Samuel Serrano fought to a draw for the World Boxing Association (WBA) super-featherweight crown.

Two other Filipinos in AJ Banal and Dennis Laurente are fighting in the undercard of the Viloria-Iribe showdown.

Banal is facing Jose Angel Beranza of Mexico in a 10-round bout penciled at the limit of 119 pounds. Banal, a native of Cebu City, came in at 118.75 lbs, while Beranza tipped at 118.25 lbs.

On the other hand, Laurente clashes with Zaid Zavaleta of Mexico in a 10-round junior welterweight bout. The Filipino made the limit of 142 pounds, while the Mexican was a pound short at 141. -Philippine Boxing News