Viloria steps up training for title defense, spars with Zou Shiming

About a month away from his first title defense of the unified WBA and WBO flyweight title, Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria (32-3-0, 19 KOs) is stepping up his preparations with head trainer Marvin Somodio at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. On April 6, Viloria will be fighting Juan Francisco Estrada (22-20, 18 KOs) at the Venetian Casino and Resort in Macau.

 

“Maganda training ni Brian ngayon. Pinag-aaralan namin yung style ni Estrada at kung paano siya matumba,” said Somodio. The Filipino trainer originally from Baguio’s Shape-Up Boxing Gym also shared that Viloria is stepping up his preparations for the bout.

 

“Sa ngayon naka six rounds sparring na kami kay Zou Shiming at isa pang Mexican fighter,” Somodio shared. “Ang pinaka goal namin ay ang maabot ni Brian ang peak niya sa araw ng laban.”

 

The Olympic gold medalist Zou will be making his professional debut in the same card and he’ll be fighting Eleazar Valenzuela of Mexico. The Chinese fighter will be debuting as a light flyweight which is why he had no problem sparring with the flyweight Viloria.

 

Viloria and Estrada fought in the same card last November. Estrada lost a via unanimous decision to  reigning WBO light flyweight champion Roman Gonzales while Viloria knocked out Hernan Marquez to be crowned as the unified flyweight champion.

 

Even though Estrada lost, his good performance and Gonzales’ unwillingness to head north to the flyweight division to challenge Viloria, gave him an opportunity of a lifetime.

 

Somodio added that their goal is to keep Viloria in peak condition for his upcoming fight. Although the former Olympian had trouble with his stamina in some of his fights, Viloria has proven to be past this problem as he dismantled his last three opponents by knockout.

 

“Alam naman natin na magaling at malakas si Brian kaya pag nasa kundisyon siya wala ng rason para matalo sya,” added Somodio. “Magiging magandang laban ito, exciting at matapang at matibay din si Estrada.”

 

Viloria and his team will travel to Macau by March 25 or 26 which means the fighter will get 11 or 12 days to fight off the jetlag and be acclimated to the weather there. - Reuters