BEAMING with confidence, Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria said he is going to nail a comeback victory today, Saturday, against an equally determined Mexican challenger.
Boxing action at the Ynares Sports Center kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with the 29-year-old trying to disprove critics that he is not up for the challenge.
"I am very ready for Saturday. I am already excited and I'm hoping to win this fight," Viloria told reporters at the official weigh-in at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pasig City Friday.
Viloria and opponent Omar "Lobito" Soto tipped the 112-lb scale for the non-title flyweight bout. The undercard fighters also reached the weight limit.
He reiterated that what drives him now is to regain a lost pride following his unlikely loss to 20-year-old non-titled Colombian Carlos Tamara last January for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight crown.
"I am focused just for this fight. I have prepared for 13 weeks for this and with the support of my family and fellow Filipinos, we know we can pull it through," he said.
Soto, on the other hand, said he will just show his best to upset Viloria anew before a cheering hometown crowd.
"He's a good fighter. I've seen his fights and it's a great pleasure to fight a world-class fighter like him. Just like him, I want to be a world champion too," he said.
Soto holds a 19-6-2 record (13 KO's) whose last fight in May 1 against Juan Kantun was held to a draw with all three judges turning in identical 57-57 scorecards in the six-round duel. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)