BRIAN VILORIA IS BACK IN THE GROOVE (WITH PHOTOS)
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Jan 2008
Los Angeles, CA -- It was a great drop from performing in front of huge crowds in the hallowed halls of the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the Alamo Dome in San Antonio and the Staples Center in Los Angeles, to a humble leaky tent on a parking lot in a swap meet in south central LA that seats no more than three thousand fans.
But, for Brian Viloria, there was not much choice.
Indeed, with his diminished standing in the world of boxing following the loss of his WBC crown, two losses and a no decision, Viloria could not be picky. He had to accept fights anywhere the promoters will put it up. It was his only opportunity to show the world that he is back.
The venue, Alameda Swap Meet in the south central Los Angeles was certainly not a Staples Center, a Thomas and Mack nor an Alamo Dome. In fact, it was not an ideal place to hold a fight card.
But, the fight card was a promotion of a refutable company, Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotions and was supported by top-notched sponsors spearheaded by Tecate Beer. There was television too, albeit a Spanish Channel called Telefutura where the Solo Bexeo Series is held every Friday night.
But even with that, the Alameda Swap Meet did not have the charm of the big-named places where Viloria fought before. It was really meant for people who look for bargains, low cost stuff. Certainly, not a place to see a boxing card particularly on a rainy day under a tent.
Photo Gallery:
With that said, what made Viloria?s return to the ring self-effacing was the fact that he did not fight in the main event. In fact, his fight was the curtain raiser for the televised fight card that featured Michael Rosales and Dario Esales, two junior welterweights who slugged it out for the WBC Continental Americas Jr. welterweight title.
But given the opportunity, Viloria made the most out of it. Unlike his last fights, when he seemingly didn?t have enough will to throw punches and follow up the few he connected, tonight we saw a different Brian Viloria.
Viloria, from the get go took the fight to his foe from Barranquilla, Columbia, a veteran named Jose Garcia Bernal. Viloria made no bones about showing that he is a changed fighter and someone to reckon with in the super flyweight division.
Except for some scary moments when Bernal had his way and made Viloria eat some serious leather, the fight was for Viloria to lose. This time however, his desire to win was clearly evident. There was fire in his eyes and a clear sense that he needed to win this fight to regain some measure of respectability and prove that he is worthy of fighting a championship again.
And on a dark cold and rainy day in Los Angeles, Viloria did exactly what was expected of him. He won his fight!
Viloria knocked down Bernal in the 8th and last round but failed in his bid to end it all with a KO. He won via a UD with all three judges scoring an identical 78-72. With the win he pushed his record to 20-1 12 KO, 1ND while Bernal dropped to 26-11-1 (17KO).
Viloria?s victory is a tribute to one of southland?s lesser exposed trainers, Roberto Garcia of Oxnard, California. Garcia, to his credit, re-molded a fighter many as dismissed as one that ?lacks heart?. Some even insinuated that after an opponent nearly lost his life after a fight with Viloria, the kid from Waipahu, Hawaii had lost his ?killer instinct?. Others, wanted him to retire.
Viloria?s switch from the Wildcard Gym in Hollywood to the Gooseen Gym in Van Nuys to La Colonia in Oxnard was a great decision. At Oxnard, he was alone and so far away from the distractions common in the greater Los Angeles area where the Wildcard and the Goosen gyms were located. He was also alone and far away from people who easily distracted him. Thus, he had time to contemplate and make a firm decision what he wanted for his future.
What is next for the kid that so many, including shrewd Philippine politicians embraced as their own when he won the WBC light flyweight crown via a one round KO of Eric Ortiz, only to drop like a hot potato when he lost his crown to Omar Nino Romero two fights later?
No one knows for sure.
But tonight, Viloria at least demonstrated without any doubt that his career is renewed and he is indeed back in the groove.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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