Viloria's opponent an unknown commodity

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Waipahu boxer Brian Viloria will be fighting in Las Vegas on Saturday.

He just doesn't know who his opponent will be.

"I've been guaranteed a fight, which is good," he said. "But we don't have an opponent yet, which is bad."

Viloria was originally scheduled to fight Reynaldo Hurtado of Colombia. But in what has become a frustrating pattern for Viloria, Hurtado recently withdrew from the bout.

"I really need to get in the ring again," said Viloria, who last fought June 4. "I can't afford another cancellation. That's why I'm willing to fight even though I won't know anything about my opponent."

A previous bout for Las Vegas was canceled in September when that opponent withdrew.

Saturday's fight will be on the undercard of the Jose Luis Castillo vs. Joel Casamayor event at the Mandalay Bay. It will be Viloria's first appearance in Las Vegas.

Trainer Freddie Roach will not be with Viloria because he will be working with another of his fighters on that date.

"I'm ready even if he's not there," Viloria said. "Freddie trains me; he doesn't fight for me. He's done all he could to prepare me for this."

Viloria, the No. 2-ranked flyweight (112 pounds) in the WBC, is 15-0 with nine knockouts.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8101.