MANILA, Philippines – Tuluyan nang naplantsa ang paghahamon ni dating two-division champion Brian ‘The Hawaiian Punch’ Viloria laban kay Nicaraguan world flyweight king Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez sa Oktubre 17 sa Madison Square Garden sa New York City.
Sinabi ng 34-anyos na si Viloria na hindi niya pakakawalan ang pagkakataong maagaw sa 28-anyos na si Gonzalez ang suot nitong World Boxing Council flyweight crown.
“I’ve fought and won on the world’s biggest stages against the best of the best. I’ve prepared my whole life to win at every level of competition from World Amateur titles to the Olympic Games to professional world titles,” sabi ni Viloria.
“And this fight, against Roman Gonzalez, is likely to be my biggest challenge yet. But, it’s Roman’s biggest challenge too. This is the realization of my dreams and I will make the most of it on fight night,” dagdag pa nito.
Kasalukuyang tangan ni Viloria ang 36-4-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 22 KOs, habang bitbit ni Gonzalez ang 43-0-0 (37 Kos).
Kagaya ni Viloria, ito rin ang magi-ging isa sa pinakamabigat na laban para kay Gonzalez.
“I know Brian Viloria is a great champion and it will be a hard fight, but I am ready for the challenge,” sabi ni Gonzalez. “I have faith that God will give me the strength to keep training and be able to give all my fans my best fight ever.”
Matapos maisuko ang mga dating hawak na WBA at WBO flyweight titles kay Juan Estrada noong Abril ng 2013, apat na sunod na panalo ang ipinoste ni Viloria tampok dito ang tatlo sa pamamagitan ng knockout.
Ang huling pinatumba ni Viloria ay si dating world title challenger Omar Soto sa first round noong Hulyo 25 sa Hollywood, California.
Pinatulog naman ni Gonzalez si da-ting world champion Edgar Sosa ng Mexico sa second round sa kanyang huling laban noong Mayo 16 sa The Forum sa Los Angeles, California.