Viloria fights alongside Cuello and Farenas in Hawaii

Brian Viloria will be heading back to the ring for another shot at a world title on July 17. He will be fighting in Honolulu, Hawaii against current WBO flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda.

The good news for Filipino fight fans is that Viloria is not the only Filipino fighter who will climb up the ring that day. Two up-and-coming fighters are out to prove that they deserve to be under the spotlight. They enter the ring with the hopes of getting a crack at a world title soon.

Denver Cuello and Michael Farenas (31-3-3, 26 KOs), two of the most talented youngsters in Philippine boxing, will also head on to Hawaii to strut their stuff.

Cuello (26-4-6, 16 KOs) was a bad decision away from getting a shot at the world title. Last year, Cuello was involved in a fight to determine the number 1 contender for the WBC minimumweight title. He was up against Juan Hernandez in Mexico. Cuello scored a knockdown in the third round but he landed another punch while his opponent was down. The referee initially counted out the Mexican but when the result was announced, it was changed into a loss by disqualification for Cuello. He has since won five straight fights all by stoppage.

The diminutive Filipino will be facing Omar Soto (15-7-1, 6 KOs) of Puerto Rico in a ten-round fight. Soto has lost his last three fights but he isn’t the kind of opponent who can be pushed around. Soto is a fighter and his loses have been against high quality opposition. Cuello is one of the best punchers in his division but Soto is as tough as they come. It will be a battle between Cuello’s power and Soto’s resiliency and if Cuello gets a win, then a world title fight may be in the horizon.

Farenas, a protégé of the much-revered Gerry Penalosa, will go up against a tougher opponent in Fernando Beltran Jr. who has an impressive record of 35 wins, five losses, and a draw, with 16 of those wins coming via the short route.

It is very much possible for this fight to steal the show. Farenas has been hot and cold as of late. He has fights where he shows flashes of brilliance but then there are also times when he looks lethargic. Beltran is the kind of fighter who can bring out the best in Farenas. Beltran, who hails from Tijuana, Mexico, is a very experienced fighter who brings it to every fight. He has a few losses in his ledger but these have been against former world champions in Steve Molitor and Joan Guzman. Farenas and Beltran will be fighting for ten rounds in the featherweight division.

There will definitely be no cakewalks in Hawaii. The three Filipinos are ready for battle and their opponents are prepared as well. The main event fight between Viloria and Miranda will be worth the price of admission and the two other fights make the card so much better.

Carlo Pamintuan, GMA News TV