VILORIA IS RECOVERING WELL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 24 Jan 2010
Former IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria is “doing great” according to his manager Gary Gittelsohn who was at his bedside after a little rest following Viloria's title fight when he collapsed in his dressing room and had to be rushed to hospital for a series of CTScans and other tests, Saturday, Manila time.
Gittelsohn expressed relief after being terribly worried when Viloria suddenly withered in the 9th round of his title defense against Carlos Tamara and lost by a 12th round TKO to the Colombian on Saturday morning in an exciting Solar Sports “Collision Course” fight card at the Cuneta Astrodome as part of its “Battle by the Bay” series.
Viloria who was rushed to the nearest hospital which was San Juan De Dios on Roxas Boulevard after he collapsed in his dressing room was transferred to the fully modernized Makati Medical Center owned by esteemed businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan and was given the best possible attention.
Pangilinan himself assured us of that, while one of his top executives, Amateur Boxing Association president Ricky Vargas kept us updated on Viloria’s condition after receiving reports from the MMC administrator.
Dra. Regina Makalintal earlier told us that all the tests conducted on Viloria including the CTScans were clear and there was basically nothing to worry about. Viloria was talking and wide awake.
Gittelsohn told us “I have to say, I am really impressed with the Makati Medical Center and I am so glad we got him out of that other butcher shop.” Gittelsohn was clearly upset by the fact that while Viloria was in his hospital room recovering “those people sent bill collectors over to bother Brian today. I told them they better leave the hospital or I am immediately going to have a battery of lawyers sue them for harassment.”
Gittelsohn said Viloria would undergo follow-up tests as a precautionary measure and will remain in the hospital for another day. He said the former champion and his girlfriend who is a nurse and has remained by Brian’s side, would stay in Manila for another week and “go back to the hospital for a final checkup to make sure that he’s cleared to fly” before leaving for their home in the US.
Gittelsohn said Viloria and his girlfriend and family had suggested that he keep his return flight back to the US instead of staying behind in Manila “because they feel he is out of the woods, so I may do that but if not I may spend one more day here.”
Gittelsohn who was in the hospital reflected upon Viloria’s loss and said “we both know that sometimes in defeat you get the same respect you get in victory and Brian got that.” Gittelsohn also thanked those, including the members of media, who showed their concern and offered their best wishes and prayers for Viloria, a two-time world champion who was embraced by Filipino fans for the second time when he won the IBF title with a spectacular one-punch 11th round KO over highly-favored Mexican champion Ulises Solis at the Araneta Coliseum last April 19.
Top photo: Carlos Tamara (L) of Columbia keeps the pressure on Brian Viloria of the Philippines in this bit of action from their title fight Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Philippines. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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