Viloria is Ready: I Will Try To Knock Segura’s Head Off!
WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria says he is “ready to go” when he defends his title for he first time against mandatory challenger Giovanni Segura, the former light flyweight champion at the Yñares Sports Arena on Sunday morning.
The fight card which is a cooperative effort between Zanfer Promotions and Solar Sports is titled “Island Assault 3” and will be telecast over GMA 7 beginning at 9:00 a.m.
Viloria told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard that he’s been in the gym for almost three months and “been working hard every day, trying to get ready for Segura. It’s going to be a tough fight. I know that. Everybody knows that and I think I’m coming in as the underdog which I love. I worked ten times harder than for the (Julio Cesar “Pingo”) Miranda fight and I’m going to be ready.”
Viloria dropped Miranda in the opening round en route to winning the title via a unanimous twelve round decision in Honolulu last July 16.
The three-time world champion said he plans to use his skill, ring savvy and outbox the rugged Segura. Viloria said “it all comes down to execution. Train hard, set up a game-plan, try to work on the game-plan during training and when it comes down to the fight night you have to execute it. We have to fight smart, intelligently, stay off the ropes against Segura and just go out there and do my best.”
Viloria said some people underestimate his “hidden” punching power referring to the 11th round knockout over fancied Ulises Solis and dropping Miranda in the very first round. He said “hopefully on Sunday it (punching power) will show because I have a stopping ability. I also have the quickness, the ring intelligence and so much experience and I try to use everything all at once. ”
He said Segura was a nice person and “we can be friends before and after the fight but when we are in that squared circle all that goes out of the window and you have to get down to business. I’m going to try to knock his head off same way he’s going to try to knock my head off. That’s the sport of boxing.”
Viloria said his trainer Mario Morales “works you tremendously. He kicks butt and non-stop. He’s got me into that shape where I can go the full distance or try to wake up all the instincts that I have inside of me.”
Morales himself said Viloria was “in better condition than he was in Hawaii for the Miranda fight.” He said “if we carry on the strategy that we planned for this fight it will be an easy fight. It’s brain versus strength. If we decide to trade with Segura it will be a very hard fight but if we stick to the plan, box, and be in and out, in and out and use our speed then it will be an easier fight.”
Morales said Viloria was “very strong, very focused. I’ve never seen him this focused before.”