By Ronnie Nathanielsz
IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria will make the first defense of his newly won title against Mexican Jesus “Azul” Iribe at the popular Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 29.
The fight card was originally planned for August 22 in either the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu or the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City..
Solar Sports CEO Peter Chanliong informed BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that they had decided to stage the fight in Hawaii's Blaisdell where several former Filipino world champions including the late Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Ben Villaflor, Luisito Espinosa, Gerry Penalosa, Rolando Navarette, Jesus Salud and even boxing hero Manny Pacquiao have fought.
The Viloria-Iribe fight card is expected to bring on added excitement with the inclusion of world rated AJ "Bazooka" Banal in the Honolulu card. However, there's been no word on Banal's possible opponent.
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.
In his last fight on June 19,Iribe scored an 8th round TKO over Angel Rezago to retain his FECOMBOX title.
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.
Donaire headlines a Top Rank fight card, "Pinoy Power 2" at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on August 15 in which he will battle Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion for the WBA Interim bantamweight crown. Concepcion is best known for his stunning 1oth round knockout win over Banal at the Cebu Coliseum last year.
