Viloria makes the second defense of his World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight crown on Aug. 10 as he squares off with Omar Nino Romero of Mexico at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas.

Like super featherweight star Manny Pacquiao, who recently made waves by smashing Oscar Larios, Viloria is also trained by the renowned Freddie Roach.

In a recent conversation in Los Angeles with the Honolulu-born Viloria, whose parents are from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the 25-year-old right-hander said he is not running away from anybody and is eager to face the division’s top contenders, including Filipino Juanito Rubillar.

Rubillar’s camp had claimed that Viloria is hesitant to defend against the durable and top-ranked contender from Mati, Davao del Norte.

Rubillar, meanwhile, is meeting Wandee Singwancha of Thailand in a 12-rounder in Bangkok on July 18 that the WBC classified as an interim title fight with the winner assured of a crack at Viloria’s title.

Rubillar fights under the Bebot Elorde Stable of Sucat, Parañaque. —Nick GIONGCO