Viloria fights as flyweight vs Mexican

MANILA, Philippines - Former WBC and IBF lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria returns to the ring next month as he goes for a third “world” title in SolarTV’s Boxing at the Bay 4: Unbreakable on July 10 in Manila.

Viloria, nicknamed The Hawaiian Punch, is moving up in weight after losing his IBF lightflyweight title to Carlos Tamara last January. But he said he feels he would be far more comfortable as a flyweight when he slugs it out with Mexico’s Omar “Lobito” Soto Perez.

The 29-year-old US Olympian, who holds a 26-3 (win-loss) record, including 15 knockouts, expressed confidence that he will be back again on the world stage holding up another world title.

Throughout his remarkable professional run, Viloria has been trained by former IBF super featherweight (130 pounds) champion Robert Garcia, who went 35-3 with 25 KOs as a professional.

Meanwhile, WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. (23-1, 15 KOs) is set to clash against Hernan “Tyson” Marquez (27-1, 20 KOs), also on July 10 in Puerto Rico.

Arriving on July 3 along will be the rest of Team Viloria, namely Brian’s fiancée and LA-based Filipina nurse Erika Navarro as well as veteran cut and cornerman Ruben Gomez.

Tickets, pegged at P250, P500, P1,350, are available at all Ticketnet (911 5555) and Ticketworld (8919999) outlets.