By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
WBC and Ring magazine flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro's (aka Sonny Boy Singwancha) road to success was not paved with gold. The 30-year-old boxing journeyman has tasted the canvas seven times and was not able to answer the count. And along the way, he has faced all comers from every corner of the boxing sphere like a true warrior.
So when the proposition of fighting countryman and WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria was brought up, his response was no different than it was with any other opponent. "I'll fight him. I don't care who my opponent is. All I care is that I win," Jaro told this scribe in an interview. "It would be a great honor to fight Viloria and to try to take him down. I respect his abilities," he added.
But for now, Jaro has a Japanese challenger in Toshiyuki Igarashi (15-1-1, 10 KOs) waiting for him on July 16 in Japan. "If he's not going to be careful, I will knock him out," Jaro said about his upcoming foe.
There is, however, one other top Filipino flyweight that has caught his attention. After getting breath of an interview I did with WBO's #1 flyweight contender Milan Melindo, wherein the undefeated ALA Boxing stable standout said he feels he would win against Jaro and Viloria in a bout and that he has the ring intelligence advantage in those fights, the Silay City, Negros native extended a challenge to the upstart from Cagayan de Oro City.
"I heard and read what Milan (Melindo) said, that he can beat anyone in the division including me. All I can say is that after my fight with Igarashi, and hopefully I beat him," Jaro responded. "I'm ready to fight him. I don't care if ALA Promotions handle and promote it, I will wait for their offer. Give me a fair offer and I will fight Milan anywhere, so we can see really how far he can go," Jaro added.
Jaro is open to fight anyone once he gets past his mandatory fight with Igarashi, and a showdown with Melindo will definitely be the biggest Pinoy Pride (ALA Promotions' boxing series) showcase ever, and the best Filipino vs. Filipino match-up in years. And with Viloria sowing little interest in fighting Melindo, stating that it would not be a good financial move for him, why not gun for two belts instead of one.
