Monkey on Viloria's back

WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria was on a teleconference call the other day, sounding upbeat in discussing his title defense against nemesis Omar Niño Romero of Mexico at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City on May 13 (Sunday morning).

It was about 9 p.m. Los Angeles time when Viloria took the call initiated from the Solar office on Shaw Boulevard as network executives Kayen Zialcita, Paolo Diaz and Tek Major welcomed the Hawaiian Punch to the teleconference chat with boxing reporters. The atmosphere was lively on both ends of the line.

“Omar’s been like a monkey on my back,” said Viloria who failed to beat Romero in two previous encounters. “I’m ready to settle the score. I’ve wanted to correct things gone wrong in the past. Now, I’m in better shape mentally and physically. I’m more mature. I’m eager to showcase the best Brian I can be. I’ve prepared a lot for this fight and I think I’m a hundred times better than I was when we last fought.”

Viloria, 31, said in the culmination of their trilogy, he’ll let his hands go like they’ve never been before. “I’ll work the body, push him back and cut the ring off to slow him down,” he said. “He likes to run so I’ve got to be aggressive, be smart. I’ll use head movement, throw combinations. It just won’t be my left hook or my right hand. It’ll be everything I have.”

Viloria said the three-month camp he endured to train for Romero was tougher than his preparation for Giovani Segura late last year. “I wish the fight could be tomorrow, that’s how I excited I am,” said Viloria. “I was ready to go last month but when the fight got pushed back, I had to taper off a bit and now, I’ve picked it up the last two to three weeks. I’m eating well. I’m on weight. The other day, I was only three pounds over the limit so it won’t be a problem making 112. I’m sleeping well.”

Viloria said he has worked out at the Azteca, Wild Card and Maywood gyms with trainer Mario Morales. “I’ve been sparring with guys who mimic Omar’s style,” he said. “They’re no-name sparmates but they give you a good workout. They’ve kept me in shape, they’re keeping me sharp. The guys are pushing me. I do sparring thrice a week and I think that’s enough to prepare me for Romero.”

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Viloria said he realizes boxing is not a forever career. “It’s just a short-term window to be active in this sport,” he said. “I’m still learning, I’m still having fun, I’m enjoying. This is my chance to refine my craft and I feel confident going in with all the positive things I’ve learned in camp.”

But Viloria said he won’t take Romero lightly. “The most dangerous fighter is a desperate fighter,” he said. “Romero has nothing to lose. He believes he can beat me because I wasn’t able to beat him the two times we’ve fought. He thinks he has the mental edge over me. He wants to spoil everyone’s night. I’d like him to see me now. It’s going to be fun.”

Viloria said he doesn’t feel the wear and tear of a career that began in 2001. “I feel younger than my age,” he said. “I feel like I’m just starting. I don’t know how long more I’ll fight. I think I’ve got a long way to go, I’ll win a couple of more titles. I’ve got a few more years. I feel great and for as long as I keep enjoying, I’ll take it one fight at a time.”

Viloria said with Filipino contenders like Rocky Fuentes and Milan Melindo rising up the flyweight ladder, it’s possible he’ll fight a countryman down the road. “I’d rather not but at the same time, I realize it’s a sport, a business,” he said. “Mexican fighters do it all the time, they fight each other for the world title. I can’t do much if a Filipino is the mandatory challenger. It’ll be tough to fight another Filipino. I’ll just have to do my job, show the best boxing you can. It’s the name of the sport.”

Viloria is scheduled to fly in from Los Angeles late Friday night on a Cathay Pacific flight with wife Erica, chief second Ruben Gomez and Morales. Romero is due to plane in with trainer Manuel Montiel Sr., Manuel Montiel Jr. and Ricardo Garcia of Hector Garcia Boxing of Guadalajara. They will be billeted at the Holiday Inn on Ortigas.

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Romero, 35, was fined close to $12,000 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for failing a drug test after holding Viloria to a majority draw in November 2006. The outcome was later declared a no-contest. Romero never paid the fine and now, the NSAC has requested the sanctioning body WBO to enforce payment. Romero will pay the fine from his $50,000 purse after the fight.

Romero ended a 15-month layoff to stop Javier Romero in the third round in Hidalgo last February. The win raised his record to 31-4-2, with 13 KOs. Although he turned pro in 1995, six years before Viloria, Romero has figured in only four more fights than Viloria whose record is 30-3, with 17 KOs. The Mexican didn’t see action in 2007, owing to a one-year suspension stemming from testing positive for an illegal substance, and 2001 after losing the WBC lightflyweight crown to Gilberto Keb Baas.

Romero wrested the WBC lightflyweight title from Viloria in August 2006 via a unanimous decision in Las Vegas. Adelaide Byrd saw it 118-110, Chuck Giampa 117-111 and Mark Green 117-112. Viloria was not in the proper mental state for the fight and battled personal issues. In the rematch three months later, they fought to a majority draw with Carol Castellano and Samuel Conde Lopez scoring it 113-all and Dave Moretti 115-112 for Romero. Aside from Viloria, two other Filipinos whom Romero has beaten are Rodel Mayol and Juanito Rubillar.

In their coming third meeting, Viloria vowed to exact payback on Romero and finally, knock the monkey off his back.