INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Comfortable with the extra pounds, Brian Viloria will pour everything he?s got against Mexican Omar Soto when they tangle in the headliner of the Boxing at the Bay fourth edition Saturday night at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

The 10-round bout is set at 112 pounds and Viloria feels sharper and stronger than the last time he fought and yielded his International Boxing Federation junior flyweight title to Colombian Carlos Tamara on Jan. 23 at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Viloria, also a former World Boxing Council light flyweight champion who totes a 26-win (15 KOs), 3-loss, 2-no contest record, knows that he has to put up an impressive performance against Soto to line himself for another title crack.

"I?m so ready for Saturday," said the 29-year-old Viloria during Wednesday?s press conference at the Crowne Hotel ballroom. "I want to prove that I?m still at the top. That my heart is still in it."

Now being mentored by veteran cutman Ruben Gomez and assisted by former world super middleweight champion Frankie Lyles, Viloria didn?t predict a knockout but promised to give the fans their money?s worth in the fight card put up by Solar Sports.

Viloria said that he?d trained for 13 weeks with a two-day respite and had sparred with such notables as WBA champion Giovanni Segura and former bantamweight contender Nestor Rocha.

Having studied tapes of the 30-year-old Soto?s fights, Viloria noted that the Mexican has been durable in his fights and has always come ready to fight.

Speaking through an interpreter, Soto (19-6-2 with 13 KOs), said he?s aware of Viloria?s worldwide reputation but has prepared to neutralize the Fil-American?s vaunted speed and power.

Gomez, who has been at the corner of 70 world champions, including Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao and legendary Robert Duran, said he?d want to see the same old Viloria. "The one that comes over and kicks ass," he said.

Solar Sports president Wilson Tieng and VP for broadcast operations Ralph Roy also graced the press conference with Viloria?s fiancée Erika Navarro.