Four of the leading flyweight boxers in the world will be in action Saturday on the “Island Assault 4: The Battle” pay-per-view-event, featuring Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria vs. Omar Nino Romero III, live from Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
In addition to Viloria-Romero III, the co-feature showcases former world champions Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda (37-6-1, 29 KOs) and Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol (30-5-2, 22 KOs), in a 10-round bout with future world flyweight title fight implications.
The completion of the Viloria-Romero trilogy, originally slated for March 31, was temporarily delayed because the Nevada State Athletic Commission prevented the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) from sanctioning the fight due to unpaid penalties on Romero’s part. From 2006, Romero has amassed a total of $11,500 in penalties which he needed to pay before the fight is sanctioned.
Three-time world champion Viloria (30-3, 16 KOs), a 2000 U.S. Olympian, defends his “WBO” title belt against two-time world title-holder Romero (31-4-2, 13 KOs) in the 12-round main event. Viloria won his first 20 pro fights, until he lost the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) light flyweight championship to Romero in 2006, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision. Three months later, their rematch ended in a draw that was later changed to a “no contest” when Romero failed a post-fight drug test.
“I want to clean the slate this fight,” Viloria said. “We’ve had a loss and draw, changed to a no contest, and that was my first loss. I feel like there’d be unfinished business if I left it like that. The trilogy gives me a chance to put that chapter behind me. Romero is deceivingly quick and a little awkward at times. He goes in-and-out fairly well and throws a lot of combinations.”
Presently rated No. 2 by The Ring Magazine, Viloria has beaten many of the best smaller-weight fighters in the world, including Giovanni Segura (TKO8), Julio Cesar Miranda (DEC12), Omar Soto (DEC10), Ulises Solis (KO11), Eric Ortiz (KO1), Jose Antonio Aguirre (DEC12) and Angel Antonio Priolo (KO7).
In addition to defeating Viloria, Romero has beaten Mayol (DEC12), Jorge Arce (TKO1), Sammy Gutierrez (DEC10) and Ronald Barrera (RTD4), among the more notables.
A Mexican knockout specialist who lost a WBO title fight last year to Viloria, Miranda is rated No. 3 by the WBO and No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”). WBC No. 9 and IBF No. 12 Mayol, a Filipino now living in Los Angeles, lost his WBC Light Flyweight crown, ironically, to Romero in 2010.
The remainder of Saturday’s PPV card features the next wave of Filipino prospects. Robert “Battlin’ Bert” Udtuhan (17-1-1, 13 KOs) faces Alvin Makiling (9-4-1, 2 KOs) in a 12-round match for the Interim WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight Championship, while undefeated featherweight Jun “Chainsaw” Doligues (11-0, 7 KOs) meets veteran Jonel “Mulawin” Alibio (16-13-2, 8 KOs) in a special 10-round Featherweight Attraction. All fighters and fights are subject to change.
