Global supremacy

In the Philippines, Solar Sports and Top Rank are calling Sunday’s double championship blockbuster card “The Flash and the Furious,” referring to IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. – dubbed the “Filipino Flash” – and IBF lightflyweight challenger Brian Viloria, known for his ring fury.

But in the US where the fights will be beamed prime time Saturday night, the show is entitled “Global Supremacy.”

“We couldn’t use ‘The Flash and the Furious’ in the US because it sounds too much like ‘The Fast and the Furious,’ whose fourth sequel is just out in theaters,” said a source close to Top Rank. “We didn’t want to risk a lawsuit. So we thought of another tag and came up with ‘Global Supremacy’ which fits nicely in the theme of the Philippines versus Mexico.”

The US pay-per-view telecast will be hosted by Al Bernstein and Allan Massingale. The ring announcer is another import, Jimmy Lennon Jr. whose late father Jimmy Sr. was a fixture with the microphone for decades.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn are set to arrive from the US this morning. At presstime, it couldn’t be confirmed if Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin would fly in to watch the fights at the Araneta Coliseum.

Early arrivals included Top Rank’s Rick Sierra and Jim McConnon. Expected to fly in is Solis’ manager Fernando Beltran.

Asked how he convinced IBF lightflyweight champion Ulises Solis to defend his crown against Viloria in Manila, Arum simply replied, “We gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.”

Donaire’s parents-in-law Gerry and Becky Marcial arrived from San Francisco early Monday morning. Their daughter Nicole is also planing in to join sister Rachel, Donaire’s wife, at ringside.

The Marcials, who own and operate a taekwondo gym in Sacramento, brought in two martial arts experts to provide security for Donaire. They are “masters” Brian Singer and Ben Kelso Jr.

Incidentally, Kelso played a year of varsity basketball for Walsh College, an NAIA school in Ohio, before busting his knee. His father Ben Sr. played 46 games for the Detroit Pistons in the 1973-74 NBA season and now coaches high school basketball in Michigan.

Two-time world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa will be Donaire’s chief second during his title defense against Raul (Cobrita) Martinez on Sunday morning (local time). Also in the corner will be Peñalosa’s brother Carmelo and Los Angeles-based cutman Dr. Ed de la Vega.

“I’m more nervous as a trainer than I’ve ever been as a fighter,” said Peñalosa who, despite a shorter and thinner left leg decimated by polio, won the IBF lightflyweight and flyweight titles. “This is the first time I’m the head trainer of someone who’s not part of our family. It’s usually my brother Gerry who’s the head trainer. But since Gerry is in Los Angeles preparing for his fight against (Juan Manuel) Lopez next week, I’m doing the job.”

Penalosa admitted that sometimes, he feels like putting on the gloves himself instead of working the mitts with Donaire.

“My hands are busted up because Nonito hits so hard,” said Penalosa. “I can’t see how Nonito will lose. He’s so fast and he hits so hard. It doesn’t matter whether he wins on points or by knockout. The important thing is he wins.”

Donaire’s father-in-law Gerry Marcial said during a workout with the mitts at the Punch-Out gym in Makati last Monday, the champion fired a scorching 10-punch combination that nearly took the gloves off Peñalosa’s hands.

“There’s nobody in Nonito’s weight class who can take his power,” said Marcial. “Certainly not Martinez.”

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Former IBF superfeatherweight champion Robert (Grandpa) Garcia is in town as Viloria’s trainer. Two of Viloria’s previous trainers were Freddie Roach and Joe Goosen. Viloria’s cutman Eric Gomez used to work in Manny Pacquiao’s corner.

“We had an excellent camp,” said Garcia who runs the La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, California, and trains WBO featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano and unbeaten former WBO superfeatherweight king Joan Guzman.

“Brian’s in the best shape of his career. He knows what’s at stake. If he beats Solis, he’ll be right back in the thick of things.”

Accompanying Viloria to Manila is his Fil-Am girlfriend Erica whom Garcia described as a positive influence.

“Robert gets me in shape and my aggressiveness is back,” said Viloria. “Against Solis, I’m laying it all out and I’m prepared to throw 120 punches a round. I’m going to be more aggressive and warrior-like.”

Solis is making the ninth defense of the IBF 108-pound title against Viloria and hasn’t lost in his last 11 fights. Viloria, however, isn’t fazed. “The streak will come to an end on Sunday,” he declared.

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The weigh-in for Sunday’s fights will be held at 8 a.m. tomorrow in the Manila Hotel, the official residence of “The Flash and the Furious.”

Of the four main eventers, Martinez seems to be the least worried about making the weight. He tipped the scales at 111 1/2 last Monday. It won’t be difficult for Viloria, either. A source said the two postponements of the card gave Viloria more time to get ready and now, he’s on weight.

“In the past, Brian would be so irritable the days leading up to the weigh-in because of his difficulty in making weight but now, he’s always in a good mood,” said the source. “His mind is clear. He’s just focused on beating Solis.”

The other day, Donaire said he still had four pounds to lose but wasn’t bothered. “I know my body,” he said. “I’m not starving myself and I’m in tip-top shape. I’ll be just fine at the weigh-in.”

As for Solis, there was no word on whether he had already made weight. The Mexican camp wouldn’t disclose his situation with the scales.