MANILA, Philippines ? Since the beginning of this century, 3 Filipino boxers know what it feels like to experience the height of success in the United States. Two of them will fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 5 (Sunday, Manila time) when Manny Pacquiao challenges WBO welterweight titleholder Jessie Vargas and WBO junior featherweight titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr faces Jessie Magdaleno.
The third is Brian Viloria, a two-time light flyweight titleholder and former unified flyweight champion who made the 2000 Olympic team representing the US. The 35-year-old Viloria of Waipahu, Hawaii, of Ilocano descent, hasn?t fought since challenging pound-for-pound champion Roman ?Chocolatito? Gonzalez in October of 2015 but has been in the gym gearing up for a fight either by the end of this year or the beginning of the next. He says this will be ?my last campaign? before calling it a career but on Saturday, he?ll just be another fan observing from the stands.
Viloria says he expects Pacquiao to handle business and become the first sitting senator to win a boxing world title, but thinks it?s a more difficult fight than the long betting odds would suggest. (READ: Pacquiao vs Vargas pits ?young lion? against living legend)
?I think it?ll be a lot tougher fight for Manny than everybody believes it?s gonna be. It?s gonna be a younger, more hungry, taller, longer reach fighter in Jessie that?s gonna try and take it to Manny. But I think Manny has too much speed, too much experience behind him to give Jessie a very, very hard time and probably a win over him,? says Viloria (36-5, 22 knockouts).
Manny Pacquiao will have a tougher time against Jessie Vargas than people think, says Brian Viloria. Photo by Wendell Alinea/Rappler
?If Vargas stands toe-to-toe with Manny, then he?s gonna feel Manny?s power. But I don?t think Jessie?s gonna do that tomorrow night, I think he?s gonna try and be a smart boxer, try to use his reach to his advantage, so it?s gonna be tough for Manny to try and get inside and exchange punches with him.?
As a fighter on the comeback trail, Viloria can identify with Pacquiao?s unwillingness to leave the sport behind. It?s something he deals with himself.
?A lot of people may be like, ?[Pacquiao] is a little too old to be coming back, or he?s made enough money, but you really can?t distinguish that feeling of wanting to be a world champion again. And you always try to pursue that, and you always try to go after that,? says Viloria. (READ: Pacquiao estimates he’s given away $200 million during career)
Though Pacquiao and Donaire are sharing a card for the first time ever, Viloria has fought on the same card as both. He’s even shared a ring with Donaire, defeating him at the 2000 Olympic trials as an amateur. Viloria expects Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) to retain the title for a second time against the unbeaten Mexican-American Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs) from Las Vegas. And it?ll be speed that does the job for Donaire, he believes.
