BRISBANE, Australia – Rodex Piala plans to spend his purse from Friday’s fight with Liam Wilson on rebuilding the family home destroyed by the typhoon that devastated the Philippines in November.

The Filipino has travelled from his home of Cebu City to confront the 29-year-old Wilson in a junior-lightweight contest that could yet lead to a world-title fight later in 2026, but where Australia’s Wilson is largely fighting to achieve his professional ambitions, Piala – a 30-year-old father of four – is fighting to rebuild his life.

Piala lives with his son and three daughters aged between three and 10, his parents, and the mother of his children, and they are relying on him to help them following the destruction of Typhoon Kalmaegi.

At least 224 people were killed by the 1,800-kilometre-wide storm – 141 of those were in Cebu, having mostly fell victim to the flooding – and more than 500,000 people were displaced while houses collapsed, roofs were blown off of buildings and power outages contributed to further damage.

Fears persist of further, similarly damaging storms in the region as a consequence of climate change – Typhoon Kalmaegi also made its way to Vietnam and was followed shortly afterwards by Typhoon Fung-wong – and Piala, ultimately, is fighting in an attempt to make his family safe.

“If I win here, first thing’s first I’m going to repair the house, and then I’m going to help them financially, and hopefully with a few wins more doors will open,” he told BoxingScene while fighting back tears. “It’s emotional.

“It’s a big opportunity for this fight, to repair my house, because we had a typhoon before, so if I win it’ll change my life. First of all, I can repair my parents’ house, which was destroyed by the typhoon. We [all] live in the same house.”

Wilson, who he will fight at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on the undercard of Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa, recorded two of his three defeats at the highest level – against the Mexicans Oscar Valdez and Emmanuel Navarrete – and, according to Piala, of his past opponents is inferior to at least Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke, the Chinaman he defeated in February 2025. 

“Liam’s a good boxer,” he said, via a translator. “But I’ll do my best in this fight, because I’m a champion also. I’ll show [on Friday] night – I’ll do my best and show my training is all good. I’m 100 per cent ready. All my team’s all always ready.

“I’ve studied his style. It’s okay. It’s fine – I think I can figure it out right away.

“His chin [is his weakness].

“It’s only height. He’s just a little bit taller – it’s not a concern.

“I’ve prepared for two months in the gym. Every kind of boxer in the Philippines – I’ve done sparring with all of the tough fighters, different styles and preparation for this fight, so I’m ready.”