Roach unsure to work Viloria’s corner

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao’s celebrated trainer Freddie Roach may or may not work Brian Viloria’s corner with chief assistant Marvin Somodio and long-time cutman Ruben Gomez when the Hawaiian Punch takes on WBC flyweight champion Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez in a 12-round title bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila).

Somodio and Gomez left Los Angeles for New York with Viloria, his wife Erica and their son Tyler last Sunday. Somodio said the initial plan was for Roach to fly in late this week but things are busy at the Wild Card Gym. Miguel Cotto is preparing for his WBC middleweight title defense against Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas on Nov. 21 while WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev of Russia is also in the sweat shop getting ready for challenger Lateef Kayode whom he fights in Kazan on Nov. 4.

Somodio said Roach will decide whether or not to join Viloria’s corner today or tomorrow. “If Freddie can’t make it, Ruben and I will work Brian’s corner together,” said Somodio who was head cornerman in Viloria’s knockout win over Hernan (Tyson) Marquez to unify the WBA and WBO flyweight titles in Los Angeles in 2012. “Freddie is busy with Cotto and Lebedev at Wild Card. One of us has to stay behind to take care of them. But let’s see if Freddie can rework his schedule. Whatever he decides, Ruben and I will be ready for Brian’s fight. Brian knows what he has to do to win. We’re confident. Brian is strong. He’s a flyweight who hits like a welterweight. I like Brian’s chances against Chocolatito who’s a come-forward fighter and an easy target. I think Chocolatito is tailor-made for Brian.”

Roach is fresh from guiding Ukraine’s Viktor Postol to a knockout win over Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC superlightweight crown in Los Angeles last Oct. 3. Somodio said he helped Roach in wrapping Postol’s hands and warming him up in the dressing room before the fight. Somodio wasn’t in Postol’s corner as his spot was taken over by a translator for Roach to communicate with the Ukrainian.

Somodio said Viloria had about 120 rounds of sparring for Gonzalez. He logged several rounds with Filipinos Rodel Mayol and Donnie Nietes at the Wild Card Gym. “Brian had an excellent training camp,” said Somodio. “We respect Gonzalez a lot as a skilled fighter but his style suits Brian. Personally, I’m confident because Brian is well-prepared. That’s why I know Brian can beat Gonzalez.”

Viloria has won 10 of his previous 11 outings, seven by knockout including the last three over Jose Alfredo Zuniga, Armando Vasquez and Omar Soto. The only loss in that stretch was to Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada by a split decision in Macau in April 2013.  Estrada went the distance with Gonzalez in losing a decision in 2012 and the Nicaraguan has since scored nine knockouts in a row.

Viloria has a record of 36-4, with 22 KOs while Gonzalez’ slate is 43-0, with 37 KOs. Both are power punchers with the capability of ending a fight with a single blow. Gonzalez is chasing the record of 49-0 which Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. set in retiring from the ring as unbeaten world champions. There’s also the record of 51-0-1, set by Mexico’s Ricardo Lopez, to eclipse.

The New York State Athletic Commission has appointed Benjy Esteves, Jr., who is of Puerto Rican descent, to be the referee for the Gonzalez-Viloria bout. The judges will be Don Ackerman of New York, Waleska Roldan of New York and Don Trella of Connecticut. Esteves was the referee when Viloria lost by a majority decision to Mexico’s Edgar Sosa in 2007. Esteves also worked the fight where Nonito Donaire, Jr. was outpointed by Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013.

A tragic stain in Esteves’ record was when he worked the Teon Kennedy-Francisco Rodriguez duel for the USBA superbantamweight belt in Philadelphia in 2009. Esteves halted the bout in the 10th round, declaring Kennedy the winner. Rodriguez collapsed in his corner, was rushed to the hospital, underwent brain surgery and died two days later. He was also the referee in the Mayweather-DeMarcus Corley fight in 2004 and the Cotto-Sugar Shane Mosley bout in 2007.

Ackerman was a judge in Amir Khan’s win over Cris Algieri in Brooklyn last May. Roldan is a lady judge while Trella was a judge in IBF flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng’s victory over Filipino challenger JohnRiel Casimero in Bangkok last June.