FIL-AM BRIAN Viloria believes he has the tools and skills to teach Mexican Hernan “Tyson” Marquez a lesson and unify the world flyweight crown when they tangle on Saturday at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena.
Viloria, the WBO titlist who is turning 32 a week after the battle dubbed “Champion vs Champion,” also predicted a knockout victory over the 24-year-old WBA king.
While he acknowledged Marquez (32-2 with 24 knockouts) as a rising young champion, Viloria (31-3, 18 KOs) said his experience, speed and explosive power will eventually overwhelm the smaller Mexican.
“It’s going to be an action-packed fight because none of us will try to back down,” Viloria said during a phone patch interview with Manila sportswriters yesterday.
Viloria, who trained at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood primarily under the supervision of Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio, admits he is wary of Marquez’s uppercuts.
“Chances of somebody hitting the floor is very high on this fight,” Viloria said in the interview facilitated by Solar Sports at its offices in Mandaluyong.
“I’m ready to go. I wish the fight is already tomorrow,” said Viloria, who stopped Giovani Segura (eighth round) and Omar Nino Romero (ninth) in his last two bouts to raise his number of Mexican victims to 17.
While Romero is on a seven-bout win run, he was unimpressive in besting Filipinos Richie Mepranum (unanimous decision) and Fernando Lumacad (majority decision), respectively.
Incidentally, Nonito Donaire Jr. and Mepranum handed Marquez his twin losses in 2010.
Viloria, who is just four pounds over the 112-pound limit, noted that “the style of Marquez is tailor-made for me.”
The 5-foot-4 Viloria regards his showdown with Marquez, a 5-2 southpaw who fights in the mold of Segura, as definitive of his career. “There’s nothing for me if I don’t win this,” he said.
The Viloria-Marquez bout will be aired via satellite on GMA 7 on Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. It will also be telecast in Mexico through Caza del Boxeo, Azteca 7, and in the United States through Wealth TV.