The Cuban Will Kiss The Canvas For Good

by ODON S. BANDIOLA

Filipino WBO and WBA unified flyweight boxing champion. Brian Viloria was simply outgunned and outfought by Mexican challenger Juan Francisco Estrada.

It was obvious that Team Viloria never studied the boxing style of Estrada. Viloria did not develop a game plan against him. He was badly defeated.

The decision was a split but it could have been unanimous. It was a lopsided win for Estrada. Viloria’s handspeed was simply no match for Estrada’s punching combinations which simply overwhelmed Viloria.

Viloria engaged Estrada in a toe-to-toe duel starting from the middle rounds up to the end. There, Viloria was all the way at the receiving end. The Filipino was battered by Estrada’s blinding punching combinations. Viloria’s corner which included former world champion Gerry Peňalosa must take some of the blames.

Viloria is not of lesser stuff than Estrada, but Viloria lacked the game plan how to put the Mexican away.

The referee likewise was one of the major culprit in Viloria’s loss. A series and repeated low blows Estrada delivered against Viloria was tolerated by the referee surnamed “Rodriguez.” Such deserved only a warming from the dumb boxing referee.

Possibly Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotions made a killing by staging the first ever professional boxing extravaganza in Macau. Arum defied the usual boxing presentation by making a 4-rounder bout the main event starring the Chinese two-time Olympic gold medallist in his pro-boxing debut beamed by millions of Chinese homes at the pay-per-view. Financially, Arum may have made a killing with such promotion.

One Filipino champ down in three championship bouts very recently. IBF junior flyweight champion Junriel Casimero retained his belt by a decision in Panama. WBO Junior flyweight champion Donie”Ahas” Nietes retained his crown with a draw in Cebu. Then came Viloria’s downfall Saturday night, April 6. If there is any consolation, another interim championship was recently captured by an Ilonggo surnamed Sabillo, the WBA minimum weight interim champion.

Come Sunday, April 14, another Redemption Day is to be staged by Donaire for the Filipinos. I’ll bet the Cuban will kiss the canvass for good. /MP