Donaire itataya ang titulo: Viloria magtatangka naman

MANILA, Philippines - Isa ang magdedepensa ng kanyang titulo sa ikatlong sunod na pagkakataon, habang ang isa naman ay magtatangkang muling makapagsuot ng korona.

Nakatakdang sagupain nina world flyweight champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. at dating world light flyweight titlist Brian ‘The Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria ang kani-kanilang mga Mexican counterparts sa ‘The Flash and The Furious’ ngayong araw sa Araneta Coliseum.

 Itataya ni Donaire ang kanyang suot na International Boxing Federation (IBF) at International Boxing Organization (IBO) crowns laban kay Raul ‘Cobra’ Martinez.

Susubukan naman ni Viloria, dating World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight king, na agawin kay Ulises ‘Archie’ Solis ang tangan nitong IBF light flyweight belt.

‘He’s pretty heavy handed himself,’ ani Donaire kay Martinez. “He has the power, he has the speed but that’s one thing that I have. That I do have the power, the speed and I’m not gonna brag about it but they don’t call me ‘The Flash’ for nothing.”

Tangan ng 26-anyos na si Donaire ang 20-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 13 KOs, samantalang may 24-0-0 (14 KOs) slate naman ang 27-anyos na si Martinez.

“Personally, I think my left hook is my deadly weapon,” sabi ni Martinez, lumaki sa Texas, USA. “I know that Nonito has a deadly weapon himself. So were gonna have the same deadly weapons in the ring”

Bago si Martinez, matagumpay na naidepensa ni Donaire ang kanyang IBF at IBO flyweight titles kontra kina Mexican Luis Maldonado at South African Mthalane Moruti.

Hangad naman ng 28-anyos na si Viloria na maagaw sa 27-anyos na si Solis ang tangan nitong IBF light flyweight belt.

“I’m gonna give it my all. I know Solis is a real tough fighter. I know he has a streak going but one thing about streak is that one day it will come to an end,” wika ni Viloria. “And Sunday I think is gonna be the day.”

 Ito ang pang siyam na sunod na title defense ni Solis, biniktima sina Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol, Bert Batawang at Glenn “The Filipino Bomber” Donaire, kuya ni Nonito, Jr.

Dadalhin ni Viloria ang 24-2-0 (14 KOs) kontra sa 28-1-2 (20 KOs) ni Solis. (Russell Cadayona)