By: Gilbert Espeña
MULING sasagupa si dating four-time world champion Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria sa super flyweight bouts sa undercard ng rematch nina WBC champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai ng Thailand at Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez ng Nicaragua sa Setyembre 9 sa The StubHub Center sa Carson, California sa United States.
Hindi pa tinukoy kung sino ang makakasagupa ni Viloria, ngunit tiniyak ni K2 Promotions managing director Tom Loeffler na magiging eliminator bout ito para sa susunod na challenger nang magwawagi kina Rungvisai at Gonzalez.
Sa isa pang undercard, ipagtatanggol naman ni WBO super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue ng Japan ang kanyang titulo kay top ranked Antonio Nieves ng Puerto Rico.
“I’m very excited to be on this important card,” sabi ni Viloria sa Boxingscene.com. “I haven’t missed a day of roadwork, and I’ve been putting in the hours at the Wild Card so that I can give my hometown fans in Los Angeles what they always expect of me -- my very best. I’m refreshed and strong, and nothing’s going to stand in my way of winning another world title.”
Ayon naman sa pahayag ng manedyer ni Viloria na si Gary Gittlesohn, pursigido si Viloria na muling maging world champion matapos magbalik mula sa pagkatalo kay Gonzalez noong Oktubre 17, 2015 via 10th round TKO para sa WBC flyweight title sa Madison Square Garden sa New York City.
“The little giants of boxing are finally getting the showcase they deserve. For my money, these weight classes are the most talent-laden in boxing, and this card is presenting the very cream of the crop,” ani Gittlesohn. “Brian has distinguished himself as one of the most explosive and exciting fighters in the world. He has a lot to prove on this card, and I’ve never seen him more eager to impress. Personally, I can’t wait.”