Viloria willing to face Melindo but WBC champ says fight not good financially; Aldeguer thinks otherwise

CEBU, Philippines - While he is open to the possibility of defending his title against fellow Filipino Milan "El Metodico" Melindo of the ALA Boxing Gym, reigning WBO flyweight champion Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria personally feels that it's not going to be a good fight as far as the economics of boxing is concerned.

The 31-year-old Viloria even holds Melindo with high respect as a dangerous fighter aspiring to become a world champion but said the bout won't be good enough to generate a huge revenue specially on the pay-per-view aspect with both of them being Filipinos.

"As a fighter, you're going to have to fight whoever they put in front of you. Personally, I don't think it's a good financial move for me," Viloria told Dennis Guillermo of examiner.com, even stressing out how he would be better off with a Mexican foe.

"We get money from the Mexican TV, and from the Philippine TV, so we have that type of income from both nations. But when it comes to another Filipino fighter, we only have the Filipino television that's going to pay up for the fight, so financially speaking, and that's from the business side, that's not a really good move for me, but like I said, you as a fighter, whoever they put in front of you, you're going to have to fight," said Viloria in the same internet report.

ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer said he doesn't see the logic of Viloria's thinking .

"If this fight happens, it could be one of the biggest fights in the Philippines that may draw a lot of interest. What I know is that the mandatory is due and we have written the WBO so we are just waiting for the response. This fight will be good for Philippines boxing so I'm not sure what Brian meant when he said the fight is not good financially because to me it will be a great fight that will draw fans and sponsors," Aldeguer said.

Aldeguer has some reservations though that the planned bout may not happen at all.

"It needs a huge investment to make this fight happen and it might not even happen depending on Viloria as he has his own plans. In the other side of the things, it could be a high risk-low reward fight for Brian as he made a name after beating Giovani Segura and he wants the big fights against the big names and Milan is a young fighter that is very hungry to make a name for himself in the boxing world," he said.

Aldeguer has already sent a letter to the WBO requesting for a mandatory showdown between the two highly skilled ring gladiators.

Melindo earned the status as Viloria's mandatory challenger after coming up with a spectacular first round knockout of former world champion Jesus Geles of Colombia, who is rated No.9 by the WBO, during the "Pinoy Pride 14:Night of Champions" last June 3 at the Resorts World Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.

Aldeguer said they don't want to see a Filipino fighting against a Filipino but they have no other choice than to dance with the music if that's the way it goes.

The 24-year-old Melindo is undefeated in 27 fights packed with 11KOs, while Viloria, who previously kept his belt with a masterful ninth round stoppage of Mexican archrival Omar Nino Romero last May 13 at the Yñares Sports Center in Pasig City, carries 31-3 card dotted with 18KOs. (FREEMAN)