Waipahu boxer Brian Viloria has been an American idol in the Philippines for the past 10 days.

"It's crazy," Viloria said. "They treat their athletes different here. Where ever I go in public, there's a crowd following me around, or waiting for me. I actually have bodyguards with me just in case."

On Saturday, Viloria will be on his own in what could be the toughest fight of his already-glorious career.

He is scheduled to face Mexico's Ulises Solis for the IBF light flyweight (108 pounds) world championship at Araneta Coliseum in Manila. The bout will be televised internationally on pay-per-view (available in Hawai'i through Oceanic).

"This is the toughest guy I'll face," Viloria said. "He's strong and he varies his tactics from opponent to opponent, so that makes him even tougher to prepare for. But I feel like it's up to me to make this fight go the way I want it to go."

Viloria has a professional record of 24-2 with 14 wins by knockout. Solis is 28-1 with 20 knockout victories.

Viloria lost a WBC light flyweight world championship bout to Edgar Sosa on April 14, 2007. Since then, Viloria is 5-0.

"I've never felt better," said Viloria, 28. "Physically, this is as ready as I've ever been for a fight. I had a lot of time to prepare for this guy and I really enjoyed the training I went through for this fight."

Solis won the IBF light flyweight title in January of 2006, and has held it ever since. He is 7-0-1 in world title defenses and has earned the nickname "Filipino Assassin" because of his recent victories over top contenders from the Philippines.

Viloria, who was raised in Waipahu but is of Filipino heritage, is being adopted by the hometown fans for Saturday's bout.

"Even when I go out running, the people are noticing me and screaming my name," Viloria said. "They keep saying 'Idol! Idol!' The other day, I looked behind and there was this group of kids running behind me. It was kind of cool, actually. Like something from the movies."

Because of his Filipino heritage, Viloria has also been asked by the event promoters to make several public appearances. Most notable, he did an interview for a popular television show — "the equivalent of Entertainment Tonight for the Philippines," he said — and spoke before a large crowd at a professional basketball game at Araneta Coliseum.

"We were careful to schedule these things so as not to interfere with his training," said Gary Gittelsohn, Viloria's manager. "But these are things that help Brian, and help his fans, and help the promotion, so it hasn't been a distraction."

Saturday's bout will actually take place on Sunday morning in the Philippines (there is an 18-hour time difference between Honolulu and Manila).

Because of that, Viloria has been conducting his workouts in the morning hours.

"My body is adjusted already," he said. "It's not going to be a problem. (Solis) has to go through the same thing."

Prior to arriving in Manila, Viloria was training at the La Colonia Boxing Club in Oxnard, Calif., under trainer Robert Garcia.

"We've done everything we possibly can to prepare for this fight," Viloria said.

Arriving in Manila on April 6 has also helped Viloria maintain his weight. Viloria's last five bouts have been in the flyweight (112 pounds) division.

"It's so hot and humid here, I'm actually ahead of schedule as far as making weight," he said.

Viloria's parents will not make the trip from O'ahu, but he said he expects dozens of other relatives and friends to be in attendance on Saturday.

"It's not pressure, it actually motivates me to have all this support here," he said. "It's an inspiration for me to think that all these fans want me to fight for them."