It’s been six long years since Brian Viloria put on a show for his hometown fans and the Filipino-American world champion has vowed to make a lasting impression when he faces Jesus Iribe of Mexico Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Viloria, born in Honolulu to Ilocano parents, is making the first defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown he took from another Mexican, Ulises Solis, via an unforgettable 11th round knockout last April at the Araneta Coliseum.

During Saturday’s official weigh-in, Viloria checked in at 107 ½ lbs, while Iribe, fighting for the first time outside Mexico, came in at 108 lbs after failing to make it in his first try.

Viloria and Iribe square off at around 9 p.m. (3 p.m. of Sunday, Philippine time) in the first world title fight on the islands in 33 years. The last time Hawaii hosted a world title fight was during the reign of another favorite son, Filipino Ben Villaflor, as World Boxing Association juniorlightweight kingpin.

Viloria, who has a 25-2 win-loss record with 15 knockouts, hasn’t seen action in Hawaii since stopping

Valentin Leon of Mexico in eight rounds at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel in April, 2003.
 
“I am very happy to be fighting in Hawaii,” said Viloria, who represented the US in the world championships and even in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Iribe, 15-5 with nine KOs, said he did not travel to the Aloha Sate to lose.

“I’m here to win that belt and take it back home with me. Viloria is a very strong fighter and I have to be very cautious with what I am going to do,” said Iribe, who hails from the city of Culiacan, the home of Mexico’s greatest champion, Julio Cesar Chavez.

Viloria said the keys to victory would be his combinations and his advantage in speed.

“I have to put my combinations together and use my speed to my advantage,” he said.

Two other Filipinos — Cebu hotshot AJ Banal and Manila boy Dennis Laurente — are seeing action on the show being staged by Solar Sports.

Banal, who fights under the ALA Boxing Club, meets Angel Beranza of Mexico in a bantamweight tiff, while Laurente collides with Zaid Zavaleta, also of Mexico, in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

Banal is facing Beranza of Mexico in a 10-round bout. Banal, a native of Cebu City, came in at 118.75 lbs, while Beranza tipped at 118.25 lbs.

Laurente made the limit of 142 pounds, while Zavaleta was a pound short at 141.