Viloria ready for 'personal fight'

CEBU, Philippines - Three-time world champion Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria (30-3, 16 KOs) considers his third encounter with Mexican nemesis Oscar Nino Romero (31-4-2, 13K)s) as a personal fight for him and that he will give his best shot to dish out a splendid performance worth remembering for his Filipino fans.

The 31-year-old Viloria will defend his WBO flyweight title against the dangerous Mexican challenger in a 12-round rumble topbilling the keenly-awaited "Island Assault 4:The Battle" this Sunday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

"There'll be no single boring round," said Viloria. "I've trained harder than before and it's going to show Sunday. Expect fireworks."

Viloria swept his first 20 pro fights until he lost the WBC light flyweight championship to Romero via unanimous decision in 2006. Three months later, their rematch ended in a draw that was later changed to a "no contest" when Romero failed a post-fight drug test.

"I really, really trained myself very hard for this fight. This is personal on my part. I want to five fans a good fight," added the 2000 US Olympian. "This is it. This third fight is happening because it gives me an opportunity to bounce back from the first two fights."

Since their first meeting six years ago, Romero has nothing was words of respect for Viloria. "He (Viloria) has turned into a great fighter," said the former two-time world titlist.

In the supporting main event, Rodel "Batang Mandaue" Mayol (30-5-2, 22 KOs) will go up against Julio Cesar "Pingo" Miranda (37-6-1, 29 KOs) in a 10-round duel of former world champions.

Miranda, rated No. 3 by the WBO and No. 4 by the WBA, is a Mexican knockout artist who dropped his WBO title fight last year to Viloria.

The WBC No. 9 and IBF ranked No. 12 Mayol, a Cebuano now living in Los Angeles, lost his WBC light flyweight crown, ironically, to Romero two years ago.

In the other feature of the pay-per-view card presented by Solar Sports in partnership with Zanfer Promotions of Mexico and will be telecast by GMA-7, Robert "Battlin' Bert" Udtuhan (17-1-1, 13 KOs) will slug it out with Alvin Makiling (9-4-1, 2 KOs) for the interim WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title, while the undefeated featherweight prospect Jun "Chainsaw" Doliguez (11-0) will take on Jonel "Mulawin" Alibio (16-13-2, 8KOs) in a 10-round special attraction.

— with reports from philboxing.com (FREEMAN)