Viloria an elusive target for Miranda

Manila, Philippines - Challenger Brian (The Hawaiian Punch) Viloria said yesterday he’s not worried about WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda’s vaunted power because the Mexican can’t knock out what he can’t hit.

 “I’m very confident,” said Viloria, seeking to become the fifth Filipino ever to win world titles in at least two weight divisions after Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Luisito Espinosa, Gerry Peñalosa and Manny Pacquiao. “I feel great. I’m on weight. I don’t think there’s anything Miranda will bring to the table that I don’t already know. I’m ready to do what it takes to win.”

Miranda stakes his crown against Viloria in a 12-round bout at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu tonight (tomorrow morning, Manila).

Viloria said fighting in Hawaii where he was born is more of an advantage than a disadvantage. “I’m not thinking about the pressure of winning,” he said. “I’ll feed off the energy from the fans and I’ll do what I can to score a big victory.” In Viloria’s mind, there’s no doubt that a new champion will be crowned after the fight.

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn predicted a sensational victory for the Sydney Olympian who traces his roots to Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. “Brian is in the best shape of his life,” said Gittelsohn. “He worked harder for this fight than any other in his life. I see a new sense of purpose and a heightened intensity in Brian’s attitude. Brian is well aware of the stakes.

Miranda is a strong, aggressive fighter. But Brian is quicker, better-skilled and can crack, too.”

Gittelsohn said he expects a performance as decisive as Viloria’s spectacular 11th round knockout over Ulises Solis to win the IBF lightflyweight title at the Araneta Coliseum two years ago. “The Brian who knocked out Solis will enjoy equal success against Miranda,” continued Gittelsohn. “Winning a third world title in two different weight classes will put Brian in a rarefied place. I’m convinced Brian will make us all proud and deliver another world title to the Philippines.”

Viloria’s chief second Ruben Gomez said he’s aware of how hard Miranda hits. The Mexican has scored 28 knockouts in 35 wins, an 80 percent rate. “It’s going to be a tough fight,” said Gomez. “Miranda’s powerful. He’s a volume puncher who’ll come in and try to take you out. He won’t mind taking a shot to give one back. But he doesn’t have the best of chins. I think we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

Gomez said Viloria won’t rush things. “Brian will be patient,” he went on. “He’ll bank rounds. He’s got to fight smart. If the opportunity to knock out Miranda comes, Brian will take it. We’re aware of Miranda’s knockout percentage and Brian won’t get careless. Brian will try to win every round. He’ll work the body and wear Miranda out. It’s a must win for Brian. If he loses, I think his boxing career is over.”

Gomez said Viloria’s marriage to long-time girlfriend Erica Navarro in Honolulu last December was a positive milestone in his life. “Erica is very, very supportive,” said Gomez. “Now that he’s married, Brian works even harder in the gym. He’s got a different outlook in life, with a new sense of responsibility.”

Viloria’s future plans will depend on the outcome of the fight. “If he wins, I expect a ton of media interviews,” said Gomez. “Of course, Brian will want to go back to the Philippines and visit friends and relatives. But we’re not looking beyond the fight. Miranda is a tough opponent and right now, the only focus is to beat him.”

Two Filipinos will see action in the undercard. Iloilo’s Denver Cuello battles Puerto Rico’s Omar Soto in a 10-round lightflyweight contest while Sorsogon’s Michael Farenas takes on Mexico’s Fernando Beltran Jr. in a 10-round superfeatherweight bout.

Cuello is ranked No. 4 by the WBC and No. 6 by the IBF as a minimumweight and No. 5 by the WBO and No. 7 by the WBA as a lightflyweight. He’s got everything to lose in facing the unranked Soto who was unbeaten in his first 12 fights as a pro but has lost his last three outings. Cuello has won his last five fights, all by knockout, and boasts a record of 26-4-6, with 16 KOs. It will be his second assignment abroad – the first was a nightmare, ending in Cuello losing by disqualification to Juan Hernandez in Mexico last year. Soto’s record is 15-7-1, with six KOs.

Farenas, 29, is a hard-hitting brawler with a 31-3-3 record, including 26 KOs, 13 in the first or second round. The 5-6 southpaw is a protégé of former two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa who will be at ringside for the match. Farenas has figured in nine fights overseas, losing only once. His knockout rate is 83.9 percent. Beltran, 29, is also a lefthander with a 35-5-1 record, including 19 KOs. He has fought twice for the world title, losing to Joan Guzman in 2005 and Steve Molitor in 2008. Neither Farenas nor Beltran has ever been knocked out.

TV5 and Aksyon TV will air the Viloria-Miranda, Cuello-Soto and Farenas-Beltran fights at 3-5 p.m. this Sunday. Also, on Sunday, TV5 and Aksyon TV will telecast the Juan Manuel Marquez-Likar Ramos bout from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aksyon TV will replay all the fights starting 6:30 p.m. the same day.