LOOK who’s helping who.
Donnie Nietes and Brian Viloria have forged a bond together as they help each other out prepare for their respective world title campaigns two weeks from now.
The two Filipino world champions are now in the final phase of their respective training camps at the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, California that saw them serve as sparring partners of each other.
Nietes stakes his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title against Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina, while Viloria vies for another world title opposite Artem Dalakian of Ukraine for the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight crown.
Both fights are part of the undercard of the Srisaket Sor Rungvisai-Juan Francisco Estrada showdown for the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight championship at Inglewood, California on Feb. 24.
Nietes and Viloria are grateful for the opportunity to help each other out get ready in one of boxing’s biggest fights cards of the year.
“The opportunity to work and spar with Brian Viloria has been very important and will get me ready for my fight on Feb. 24,” said the 35-year-old Nietes (40-1, 22 KOs), who’s being trained by brothers Edito and Edmund Villamor.
“It has been very cool working and sparring with Donnie. He is a true professional and I am still learning from him,” said the 37-year-old Viloria (38-5, 23 KOs) for his part.
“The sparring has been high level and we are helping each other to get better all the time.”
Nietes and Viloria do need all the help they can.
Viloria faces a hard-punching Dalakian, who is unbeaten in 15 fights, 11 of which came by way of knockouts.
Reveco on the other hand, is a veteran two-time world champion, who holds a 39-3 record with 19KOs.
But Nietes is ready for him.
“I expect a very tough fight. Reveco is a two-time world champion and is coming for my belt,” said the pride of ALA boxing. “I have to be at my best to beat him and I will be.”
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