By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Two division world champion Brian Viloria is confident he can beat undefeated pound for pound No. 2 Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua when they face off at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden in a blockbuster card headed by the clash between Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux in a world middleweight unification bout on October 17.
In an exclusive interview with the New Standard/BoxingScene.com, Viloria said “I feel like it’s a good matchup. I have what it takes to take him (Gonzalez) down.”
The moment the deal was sealed , Viloria began training camp with celebrated Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach and his Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio.
Viloria told us “I will train really hard and we will pull out all the stops and bring in a strength and conditioning coach.”
The former world light flyweight and flyweight champion believes his “experience and power that Gonzalez hasn’t seen before. I’ve been in these types of situations before. I feel rejuvenated and good in this fight.”
Gonzalez had previously indicated he was willing to fight Viloria provided the price is right.
Gonzalez, who is 28-years-old and has a record of 43-0 with 37 knockouts, was quoted by BoxingScene.com as stating that he is ready to face Viloria after the Filipino-American claimed that Gonzalez had avoided fighting him over the last two years to which Gonzalez retorted that he would face Viloria in the United States but that “the issue is getting paid well because I will not fight just to fight.”
He insisted “I’m now running from anyone. I am ready to fight anyone but all I want is a good purse.”
Viloria’s trainer Freddie Roach, according to Viloria, said the boxer could beat Gonzalez if he trained hard.
Gonzalez is coming off a rousing second round TKO of former world champion Edgar Sosa on May 16. He had earlier won by a sixth round TKO over former OPBF champion Rocky Fuentes of the famed ALA Gym on November 22, 2014.
We understand the deal was agreed upon last Thursday even as Gonzalez’s manager Carlos Blandon told ESPN on Monday “everything is pointing towards Viloria. I’m glad Viloria’s team jumped back in the race. I believe he is an excellent fighter and will help Roman give another amazing performance.”