Viloria easily makes weight; foe struggles

MANILA, Philippines - Brian Viloria jumped on the scales and made 108 lb flat. His opponent, Carlos Tamara, tried twice, naked the second time, but was half a pound over the limit.

During the official weigh-in for Viloria’s defense of his IBF light-flyweight crown, scheduled at noon today at the Cuneta Astrodome, it was quite evident which fighter is in better shape for the awaited 12-round battle.

Viloria pumped his fist and smiled at photographers after making the weight while Camara, who hails from Colombia, needed an extra hour to burn the excess. After his third trip to the scales, he was finally cleared to fight.

“I’m ready. I’ve been ready,” said Viloria, making his way out of the Manila Hotel’s Centennial Hall yesterday morning, holding on to a big plastic bottle of rehydration fluid which fighters normally drink right after the weigh-in.

Viloria stood beside Tamara, face-to-face, for the photo-op after the initial weigh in, and left right after. By the time Tamara made the weight, the Fil-American champion must have finished eating, relaxing up in his room.

Tamara’s trainer, Butch Sanchez, couldn’t figure out why the veteran of the 2004 Olympics went over the limit when just a few hours earlier he was well inside the limit, at 106 lb, using a digital scale at the hotel’s fitness center.

“But it’s okay. Carlos made the weight and tomorrow he’ll be the new champion, the IBF champion,” said Sanchez of the 26-year-old challenger, three years younger than Viloria and at 5’5 an inch taller. He also has a longer reach, 66” to Viloria’s 65.”

When he finally made the weight, Tamara was seen giving the thumbs-up sign to his handlers.

“This is a chance of a lifetime so you have to make the most out of it. Carlos is the underdog but he loves being the underdog. And he likes to fight away from home. So, the pressure is on Brian, not on him,” he said.

Sanchez was asked if he sees the fight going the distance, and he said, “If one gets careless then he ends up in his bed.”

Viloria, making the second defense he won via a sensational knockout of Ulises Solis last year, said he trained three-and-a-half months for this fight, but brushed off any possibility of a burnout.

“It those three months we made it fun, laughing and cracking jokes. The first month it was about waking up in the morning, running and having fun,” said Viloria, adding that he plans to climb the ring at around 114 lb.

“I plan to gain just six pounds and that’s all,” he said.

Tamara, according to Sanchez, will come in a little heavier than that, at around “115, 116 or 117.”

Notes: Solar Sports has put up a great card for this “Collision Course” that the country’s No. 1 sports channel has brought in a couple of Spanish-speaking commentators to work the fights. The card, which will feature 10 bouts, will begin at 9 a.m. and will be aired the rest of Asia, Middle East, United States and Mexico through different cable providers. Donnie Nietes, the reigning WBO minimumweight champion from Bacolod, will take on Mexico’s Jesus Silvestre, a last-minute replacement. The fight, however, has been declared a non-title bout because Silvestre is not ranked by the WBO. Some of the finest Pinoy boxers will be part of the show, including Dennis Laurente, Jimrex Jaca and Jason Pagara, who will be up against foreign foes. Dodie Boy Penalosa, son and namesake of the former world champion, will make his pro debut against Anthony Balubar of Vigan City (2-2-1) and will be out to make an impression, the way his father did in the world stage a few decades ago. The 19-year-old Penalosa used to be part of the Philippine amateur boxing team but decided to turn pro because he felt he wasn’t being given the chance and the proper break with the national team. Now he’s out to prove some people wrong.