Viloria to risk WBC crown today

Unbeaten Filipino-American fighter Brian Viloria vows to make an impression when he risks his World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight title against Omar Nino-Romero of Mexico this morning (Philippine time) at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This will be Viloria's second defense of the crown he won by dethroning Eric Ortiz via a sensational first round knockout in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Hector Velasquez duel on September 10 last year at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

"I've had great sparring, great training. I've been sparring with the Russian Dimitri Kirilov at Wild Card gym. I feel great, great conditioning," said Viloria in expressing his readiness to trade mitts with Romero.

"We're going to go in box, fight. Make him work hard. I'm not going to depend on a knockout we're just going get some work in and get the job done," added Viloria in a report by fightnews.com.

Viloria is extra confident he would get past Romero and bolster his bid to a unification bout with WBA light flyweight champion Koki Komeda of Japan before the year ends.

"I am not the type to look past a fighter. I am very well prepared, we had great training with Freddie and I don't think Romero has a chance," said Viloria.

Viloria, 25, holds an immaculate record of 19-0 (12KOs), while Romero, 30, parades a 23-2-1 (10KOs) ledger. Both easily made the 108-pound limit in yesterday's official weigh-in.

With regards to the fractured right hand he sustained during his first defense against Jose Antonio Aguirre, Viloria assured there's nothing to worry about as the injury "is perfectly healed up now."

Also worth watching for in the undercard is Filipino Diosdado "The Prince" Gabi, who will take on German Cruz in non-title bout scheduled for 10 rounds under the super flyweight division.

Gabi is coming off an impressive showing against IBF-IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, before being stopped in the eighth of a scheduled 12-rounder.