MANILA, Philippines – For WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria, the goal isn?t just to retain his title but to also establish a legacy as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters ever by beating Mexican warrior Giovani Segura in their 12-round bout at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig tomorrow morning.
That?s how much Viloria respects Segura, rated No. 9 in the world?s pound-for-pound honor roll by The Ring Magazine and a former WBO/WBA lightflyweight titlist with a fearsome record of 28-1-1, including 24 KOs ? 11 in the first round.
?Of course, I?d like to unify the flyweight title someday and fight Tyson Marquez or Pongsaklek (Wonjongkam) but right now, Segura?s the only thing on my mind,? said Viloria making the first defense of the 112-pound crown he wrested from Mexico?s Julio Cesar Miranda last July. ?I know Segura?s in super shape but so am I. We know each other well. We sparred on and off for a period of about five years. There?s no mystery in Segura?s style. He?s heavy-handed. He relies on his power to pressure opponents and push them to the corners. I know what I?m up against and I?m ready.?
Viloria, 31, sparred over 100 rounds in preparing 2 1/2 months for Segura. ?I trained 10 times harder for Segura than Miranda,? he told The STAR in an exclusive interview. ?I know he?s determined. I have to fight smart to beat him. I?ll make him miss and adjust to my style. I won?t fight his fight. I think he?s slower than Miranda. I?ll use movement. I?ll do to Segura what (Miguel) Cotto did to (Antonio) Margarito. I?ll use my boxing skills to control the pace. Segura?s a lot like (Ulises) Solis and Miranda. He?ll want to turn it into a brawl and I won?t let him. I expect a long drag-out war and I?m prepared to do what it takes to win.?
Viloria?s chief second Ruben Gomez, who worked in Manny Pacquiao?s corner as a cutman in his early US fights, said beating Segura will catapult the Hawaiian Punch to the next elite level.
?Brian and Segura are the best flyweights in the world today,? said Gomez, an American of Mexican descent. ?This fight should be on HBO. I think it?s the Michael Carbajal-Chiquita Gonzalez fight of this generation. I don?t see anyone out there beating Brian who?s at his peak. Brian has it all ? boxing skills, power, intelligence. Then you?ve got Segura who knocked out (Ivan) Calderon twice with body shots. Segura?s a tough fighter who can knock you out with one punch but so can Brian. That?s why I think this is going to be an explosive and exciting fight. Segura has a good chin. I?m curious to find out if he can take Brian?s power.?
