By Ronnie Nathanielsz
IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria will make the first defense of his newly won title against Mexican Jesus “Azul” Iribe sometime in September and not on August 1 as originally planned.
Solar Sports CEO Peter Chanliong told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports they were still finalizing the date and the venue which could possibly be the Ultra in Pasig City.
Iribe has a record of 15-5-5 with 9 knockouts and is the reigning FECOMBOX champion having won the vacant title with a 4th round knockout over Faustino Cupul who had an impressive record of 19-1 with 14 knockouts last March 6 and is now rated No. 6 by FECOMBOX.
In his last fight on June 19,Iribe scored an 8th round TKO over Angel Rezago (Ranked No. 12)to retain his FECOMBOX title. The FECOMBOX is the Federation of Boxing Commissions under the umbrella of the World Boxing Council.
Iribe last loss was a twelve round unanimous decision to tough Mexican WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa who has beaten Filipinos Juanito Rubillar, Sonny Boy Jaro and Viloria himself.
Iribe had previously lost to reigning IBF minimum weight champion Raul “Rayito” Garcia who won the title via a split decision over Filipino southpaw Florante Condes in Garcia’s hometown of La Paz, Mexico last year.
Viloria who has a record of 25-2 with 15 knockouts is coming off a spectacular 11th round knockout win over hard-hitting Ulises Solis to grab the title last April 19 at the famed Araneta Coliseum.
On the same card promoted by Top Rank in cooperation with Solar Sports IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire retained his belts with a smashing 4th round TKO over previously undefeated Raul “Cobra” Martinez in the world title double-header.
Chanliong also told us that they were unable to get former WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon to give former bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa a rematch.
Penalosa was talking about a possible fight with Vic Darchinyan who moved up to bantamweight but lost in a title bid against Joseph Agbeko. Darchinyan appears out of the question since he has two super flyweight mandatory title defenses against IBF contender Simphiwe Nongqyari and WBC challenger Evans Mabamba who are both handled by well-known South African promoter Branco Milenkovic who is entering a purse bid ordered by the IBF.
Chanliong said that it was difficult to stage in a Penalosa fight because of the trouble in getting a good opponent as well as the costs involved and hisalternative plan is to support the Viloria-Iribe title fight with an exciting undercard featuring promising Filipino boxers. One of the fights on tap is between undefeated WBO Asia Pacific minimum weight champion and WBA Intercontinental light flyweight champion Milan Melindo (18-0, 5 KO’s) who is a classy boxer, against hard-hitting and rugged southpaw Denver Cuello (16-2-5, 8 KO’s).
