VILORIA TAKES STEP CLOSER TO TITLE FIGHT WITH ROUSING 4TH ROUND KO WIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 07 Dec 2014
Former two division world champion Brian Viloria took a step closer to a world title fight after he lost his WBO and WBA titles to Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, with a rousing 4th round TKO victory, as expected, over Armando ?Chiquito? Vazquez at the Civic Auditorium in Glendale, California.
However, a planned fight on the Zou Shiming title showdown against IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng in Macau on March 8 may be jeopardized by a nasty gash suffered by Viloria due to an accidental head-butt in the second round which required seven stitches.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had earlier told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports that should Viloria remain unbeaten in his planned three comeback fights and Zou Shiming wins the title from Ruenroeng, then Viloria and the popular two-time Olympic gold medalist who hasn?t lost a fight since turning pro and signing up with Arum, are likely to figure in a big money fight later in 2015.
It was Viloria?s second win on the comeback trail after he won a comfortable ten round unanimous decision over Juan Herrera last March 29.
Vazquez forced the action in the early going. Viloria connected with solid left hooks to the body and head before the three-time world champion ripped a devastating left hook to the liver of Vazquez who dropped on one knee and stayed there, with referee Jack Reiss counting out the Mexican at 1:47 of the fourth round.
With the win Viloria improved to 35-4 with 21 knockouts while Vazquez fell to 20-14-2 with 65 knockouts.
Estrada himself had a rough time against previously undefeated Filipino Joebert Alvarez who is a prot?g? of Nonito ?Dodong? Donaire Sr, father of five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire.
In a ten round non-title bout that was marred by several head-butts, Estrada prevailed over a game Alvarez who wasn?t afraid to engage the bigger world champion who had won the WBO/WBA tiles from Viloria by a split decision and then retained his belts with wins over Milan Melindo and Richie Mepranum.
Estrada who weighed in at 114 ? pounds, two and a half pound heavier than Alvarez suffered a cut over his left eye in the opening round while Alvarez also suffered a cut over his right eye in the same round.
The southpaw Alvarez connected with a couple of straight lefts before his cut worsened in round six forcing the ring doctor who took a look allowed the fight to continue.
Alvarez came on strong in the ninth round before another clash of heads slowed things down.
In the final round Estrada went to the body but despite being weary, Alvarez fought back before a final clash of heads at the bell ended the bout.
All three judges scored the fight for Estrada with two judges having the Mexican ahead 99-91 and the third judge 98-92 prompting Cliff Rold of Boxing Scene to remark, the scores were ?way too wide.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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