Viloria on track for title shot
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 13 Sep 2017
Former WBC/IBF lightflyweight and WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria is in line for a shot at another world title with his Los Angeles manager Gary Gittelsohn now evaluating options to seal the deal next year.
Last Saturday, Viloria stopped tough Miguel Cartagena, an American of Puerto Rican descent, at 0:44 of the fifth round to post the sixth win in his last seven outings since 2014 at the StubHub Center in Carson City. It was the Hawaiian Punch?s second straight triumph after losing to Chocolatito Gonzalez at Madison Square Garden in New York in 2015. He previously outpointed Ruben Montoya in Tokyo last March.
The win over Cartagena was far from easy. Late in the first round, Viloria was rocked by a left hook and shaken up. Cartagena also dominated the action in the second round before Viloria turned it around. ?I got a little too excited in the first couple of rounds,? Viloria told The Star. ?I eventually settled down, picked my shots and boxed.?
Cartagena, 25, began to wilt in the fourth and reeled across the ring on his heels as Viloria stepped up his attack. Early in the fifth, referee Raul Caiz, Sr. stopped the carnage as a defenseless Cartagena took every blow that Viloria threw. Freddie Roach?s Filipino chief assistant Marvin Somodio, who worked Viloria?s corner with long-time cutman Ruben Gomez, said composure did the trick.
?Brian took a good left hook at the end of the first round because he got too excited and wanted to show a great fight,? said Somodio. ?He got careless a bit but managed to stay composed in the third and so forth until he got the stoppage.? Somodio said Viloria?s ready for another world title fight. ?At flyweight, he wants to fight whomever,? he went on. ?And for me, sooner is better.?
Somodio said Viloria?s preparation was uncompromising. ?Brian started training a week after his Japan fight,? he said. ?I can?t remember all the boxers he sparred with because there were so many of them.? Viloria?s work ethic is exemplary and at 36, he remains a top contender in the 112-pound division.
?Cartagena was a dangerous opponent,? said Gittelsohn. ?He came to fight and pressure Brian. But he ate some horrific shots, painful left hooks to the body followed by strong right hands to the head. The flyweight division is definitely where Brian will stay and he still makes 112 comfortably.?
Gittelsohn called the fight ?a beautiful outing.? ?Brian looked solid, very solid,? he said. ?Brian closed the show strong and delivered a beautiful TKO. He was never badly hurt but got caught with a good punch at the end of round one because of carelessness. I?ll be evaluating options with Mr. (Akihiko) Honda of Teiken Promotions. Brian will definitely have a world title fight in 2018.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
By Eric Armit, Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison?
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025