Nick Giongco
Bob Arum the world’s most powerful promoter, is reportedly keen on staging the mouth-watering matchup featuring Brian Viloria and Nicaraguan knockout king Roman Gonzalez possibly in Manila this year.
Although Arum, the big boss of Top Rank, did not say exactly where he wants the fight held, the 81-year-old Hall of Famer, stressed that putting it up in Honolulu, the birthplace of Viloria, isn’t as attractive as having it take place in Asia.
Fernando Beltran, Arum’s counterpart in Mexico, has rights over Gonzalez and Beltran’s Zanfer Promotions, has expressed interest in working with Top Rank in making the fight happen.
Viloria had a breakout 2012, scoring rousing abbreviated victories in May and in November against topnotch opposition.
Before Filipino fans in May, Viloria stopped the durable Omar Nino Romero and in November, the Fil-Am puncher became the first unified flyweight champion in almost 50 years with a smashing tenth-round demolition of Hernan “Tyson” Marquez of Mexico.
Had it not been for the epic fourth fight between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, his slugfest with Marquez would have been a strong candidate for fight of the year.
Viloria holds a 32-3-0 win-loss-draw record with 19 knockouts, while Gonzalez parades a 34-0-0 slate with 28 knockouts.
Viloria is one of only four reigning Filipino world champions. The other two are Nonito Donaire, Donie Nietes and Johnreil Casimero, who became famous for figuring in a riot during his title-winning effort in Argentina early last year.
Article courtesy of Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin