HUGE FIGHT WEEKEND
KICKS OFF TONIGHT!
SHOBOX: JOHNSON vs NELSON
TONIGHT AT 11PM
ISLAND ASSAULT 4: VILORIA vs ROMERO III SATURDAY AT 9PM
Live in Canada Only On
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Viloria ready to finish his business with Romero
ISLAND ASSAULT 4 : THE BATTLE
LIVE IN CANADA ONLY ON SUPER CHANNEL
Four of the leading flyweight boxers in the world will be in action Saturday on “Island Assault 4: The Battle”, featuring Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria vs. Omar Nino Romero III, live from Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. “Island Assault 4:The Battle,” presented by Solar Sports, airs LIVE in Canada only on SUPER CHANNEL courtesy of INTEGRATED SPORTS MEDIA at 9:00 PM/ET. In addition to Viloria-Romero III, the co-feature showcases former world champions Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda (37-6-1, 29 KOs) and Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol (30-5-2, 22 KOs), in a 10-round bout with future world flyweight title fight implications. The completion of the Viloria-Romero trilogy, originally slated for March 31, was temporarily delayed because the Nevada State Athletic Commission prevented the World Boxing Organization (“WBO”) from sanctioning the fight due to unpaid penalties on Romero’s part. From 2006, Romero has amassed a total of $11,500 in penalties which he needed to pay before the fight is sanctioned. Three-time world champion Viloria (30-3, 16 KOs), a 2000 U.S. Olympian, defends his “WBO” title belt against two-time world title-holder Romero (31-4-2, 13 KOs) in the 12-round main event. Viloria won his first 20 pro fights, until he lost the World Boxing Council (“WBC”) light flyweight championship to Romero in 2006, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision. Three months later, their rematch ended in a draw that was later changed to a “no contest” when Romero failed a post-fight drug test. “I want to clean the slate this fight,” Viloria said. “We’ve had a loss and draw, changed to a no contest, and that was my first loss. I feel like there’d be unfinished business if I left it like that. The trilogy gives me a chance to put that chapter behind me. Romero is deceivingly quick and a little awkward at times. He goes in-and-out fairly well and throws a lot of combinations.” Presently rated No. 2 by The Ring Magazine, Viloria has beaten many of thebest smaller-weight fighters in the world, including Giovanni Segura (TKO8),Julio Cesar Miranda (DEC12), Omar Soto (DEC10), Ulises Solis (KO11),Eric Ortiz (KO1), Jose Antonio Aguirre (DEC12) and Angel Antonio Priolo (KO7). In addition to defeating Viloria, Romero has beaten Mayol (DEC12), Jorge Arce (TKO1), Sammy Gutierrez (DEC10) and Ronald Barrera (RTD4), among the more notables. A Mexican knockout specialist who lost a WBO title fight last year to Viloria, Miranda is rated No. 3 by the WBO and No. 4 by the World Boxing Association (“WBA”). WBC No. 9 and IBF No. 12 Mayol, a Filipino now living in Los Angeles, lost his WBC Light Flyweight crown, ironically, to Romero in 2010. The remainder of Saturday’s televised card features the next wave of Filipino prospects. Robert “Battlin’ Bert” Udtuhan (17-1-1, 13 KOs) faces Alvin Makiling (9-4-1, 2 KOs) in a 12-round match for the Interim WBO Asia-Pacific Bantamweight Championship, while undefeated featherweight Jun “Chainsaw” Doligues (11-0, 7 KOs) meets veteran Jonel “Mulawin” Alibio(16-13-2, 8 KOs) in a special 10-round Featherweight Attraction. All fighters and fights are subject to change.
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Official Weights & Quotes for
‘Shootout at Texas Station’
The press conference and weigh-in were held yesterday in advance of tonight’s ShoBox: The New Generation telecast, airing LIVE in Canada only on Super Channel, courtesy of SHOWTIME® at 11PM ET.
All fighters made weight on their first attempts.
In the ShoBox main event, former Cuban amateur standout and 2004 Olympian Yudel Jhonson (12-0, 8 KOs) of Miami, Florida, will take on Willie “The Great’’ Nelson (17-1-1, 11 KOs), of Youngstown, Ohio, in a 10-round junior middleweight bout.
The co-featured bout will match six-time Swedish national champion and 2008 Olympian, Badou Jack (10-0, 8 KOs), of Las Vegas and Alexander Brand (17-0, 15 KOs) of Bogota, Colombia, in an eight-round super middleweight bout.
Official Weights:
Yudel Jhonson 151.5 lbs.
vs. Willie Nelson 151.5 lbs.
Badou Jack 167 lbs.
vs. Alexander Brand 166.5 lbs.
Press Conference Quotes
Sampson Lewkowicz (Sampson Boxing)
As you saw three weeks ago with Javier Fortuna, you will see the same with Alexander Brand. Maybe not in the first round, but whenever you see me in any corner, the fighter is coming to fight.
My guy had 400 amateur fights. (To Badou Jack, Brand’s opponent) When you were born, my guy already had gloves on. He’s still young and doesn’t abuse himself. Tomorrow you will see what my fighter can do.
All my fighters have been trained by the best trainer money can buy, Pable Sarmiento, the same trainer as Sergio Martinez. Good luck Jack!
Pablo Sarmiento (Brand Trainer)
Every time we train, we get better. Tomorrow will be an excellent show and we will walk away with the victory.
Alexander Brand
“This is only the beginning. I will definitely be victorious tomorrow night. He talked too much before the fight. He never beat anyone, so why is he talking like a world champ?
“I’m going to shut his big mouth.”
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (trainer of Badou Jack, to Alexander Brand and his team)
Let me tell you what’s going to happen. We’re going to tax that a**. I can’t wait. I aint gonna say no more. You better have on your best running sneakers. I wish I could speak Spanish I would tell you exactly how I feel.
Badou Jack
“Thanks to my promoters and SHOWTIME for this opportunity. I can’t wait for the fight. I wish it was today. I will win by a knockout. He’s in with a real fighter now. You could tell he was nervous.
“I’m going to beat him up tomorrow night.’’
Jack Loew (Willie Nelson trainer)
I think they’ve underestimated Willie. I’ve watched Yudel fight and he’s nothing special. They brought a group of guys over form Cuba and if I had to pick one we got the best of the group to fight.
I know he was scheduled to fight somebody else, but we were supposed to fight somebody else too, so we’re in shape.
We look forward to the knocking this kid off. I think it’ll be exciting, but they have highly underestimated Willie Nelson. We’re looking forward to a big victory tomorrow night. Thank you.
Willie Nelson
“I want to thank everybody for coming to this fight. The only thing I can say is Yudel is a great fighter, but I’m better. Tomorrow night I will be the better man.
“I’m not taking anything away from him, but I will win. Watch tomorrow night.’’
Luis DeCubas (Blue Wave Group)
He said of all the Cubans who came over he was the easiest one? Yudel is one of the best 154-lb fighters in the world and he’ll show it tomorrow.
I give Willie credit for taking the fight. We had to come down in weight a little.
(To Willie Nelson) We couldn’t find anyone to fight Yudel, so I’m impressed you took the fright. I’ve seen Willie fight many times and he’s a great fighter. It promises to be a great fight and a great card.
Ismael Salas
Thanks everyone for coming out. I thank Willie Nelson for taking the fight. I’m not much for talking. My fighters do their talking in the ring.
Luis DeCubas Jr. (Blue Wave Group)
He picked the wrong Cuban. Willie is in for a big surprise.
Yudel Jhonson
“Thank you to the United States for the freedom to fight professionally. Thanks to SHOWTIME for making me able to show my talents. I’m in great condition. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in and I had the best training camp of my career.
“This is a great opportunity and I won’t let it pass me by. I’m dedicating this fight to all the mothers in the world, especially my mother in Cuba.”
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