Viloria out to frustrate plucky Colombian

MANILA, Philippines - Brian Viloria will make sure Carlos Tamara flies home to Colombia empty-handed.

“I know how hard it is to stay as world champions, and challengers always say they want to take your title away. But I still want my title,” the reigning IBF light-flyweight champion from the Philippines said yesterday.

The 29-year-old Viloria will defend his title for the second time, and Tamara, three years younger and at 5’5” just an inch taller, sounded during the final press conference at the Manila Hotel like he’s out to take it away.

“I came here fully prepared. To me, this is an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Tamara through his trainer, Butch Sanchez. “I’m going to give it all. All my career I’ve waited for a chance like this, and I’m prepared to bring home the title.”

Tamara said growing up in Colombia makes him no different to the weather in the Philippines, and from the presidential table, just two seats away from his opponent, he said he felt “right at home” the moment he arrived in Manila last Monday.

“I feel good. I have no problem making weight,” said Tamara, as he looked forward to tomorrow’s official weigh-in, also at the Manila Hotel, and Saturday’s fight, scheduled to start at around 12 noon, at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Sanchez said Tamara, who trained long and hard in New Jersey, is already in tip-top shape that they decided to skip the gym work yesterday, and may opt for morning runs, and some drills at the Luneta Park fronting their hotel.

But if he’s ready, Viloria may be even more.

“I feel good where I’m in right now. I’m ready with my weight (limit is at 108 lb) and I can still eat a little bit. All I see now is Saturday and I see myself holding on to the trophy. All in my mind now is Tamara,” said Viloria.

Donnie Nietes takes on Mexico’s Jesus Silvestre in the main undercard, but the Filipino won’t be able to stake his WBO minimum-weight crown because Silvestre, a late replacement for Gutty Gutierrez, is not ranked by the WBO.

Nietes, who has a pet snake around his body when he climbs the ring, almost brought the house down yesterday when he said he can’t make a prediction but vowed to score a knockout.