"VILORIA DESERVES TO BE IN RING'S POUND FOR POUND TOP TEN"
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 18 Dec 2011
Filipino boxing fans were treated to a Sunday of spectacular action and a touch of controversy last December 11 thanks to the telecasts of the three leading networks in our country.
ABS-CBN?s presentation of ?Pinoy Pride X? certainly lived up to its hype with two terrific action-packed bouts in the continuing storied Philippine-Mexican rivalry.
IBF Intercontinental featherweight champion Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista retained his title with a smashing 6th round knockout of previously undefeated Mexican Miguel Angel Mendoza who came into the ring with a fearsome record of 17 knockouts in 17 fights with one draw.
Super bantamweight Genesis ?Azukal? Servania, the sweet punching kid with a truly bright future put on an excellent performance in overcoming another undefeated Mexican Marcos Cardenas in ten rounds. Both fights gave fans at the Hoops Dome in Lapu Lapu City more than their monies worth since they were action-packed from the opening bell.
But by far the most enthralling fight was WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria?s classic 8th round TKO victory over another Mexican with a huge reputation, the former light flyweight champion Giovanni Segura whose claim to fame was that he was the first fighter to knock out previously undefeated Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico in dominating fashion.
After watching Viloria in a light workout some four days before his mandatory title defense and talking to him about his first defense of the crown he won from Julio Cesar ?Pingo? Miranda at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii we had a good feeling.
Brian whom we have always admired because he is a classy young man with remarkable skill gave us an insight into his game plan in which he would use his skill, ring savvy and experience to counter the go-for-broke style of Segura.
Viloria conceded he was the underdog since he was taking on a fighter who was ranked No. 9 in the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound list. But we drew inspiration from Brian?s quiet confidence when he told us ?it all comes down to execution. Train hard, set up a game-plan, try to work on the game-plan during training and when it comes down to the fight night you have to execute it. We have to fight smart, intelligently, stay off the ropes against Segura and just go out there and do my best.?
Viloria said some people underestimate his ?hidden? punching power referring to the 11th round knockout over fancied Ulises Solis and dropping Miranda in the very first round. He said ?hopefully on Sunday it (punching power) will show because I have a stopping ability. I also have the quickness, the ring intelligence and so much experience and I try to use everything all at once. ?
He said Segura was a nice person and ?we can be friends before and after the fight but when we are in that squared circle all that goes out of the window and you have to get down to business. I?m going to try to knock his head off same way he?s going to try to knock my head off. That?s the sport of boxing.?
Viloria said his trainer Mario Morales ?works you tremendously. He kicks butt and non- stop. He?s got me into that shape where I can go the full distance or try to wake up all the instincts that I have inside of me.?
Morales himself said Viloria was ?in better condition than he was in Hawaii for the Miranda fight.? He said ?if we carry on the strategy that we planned for this fight it will be an easy fight. It?s brain versus strength. If we decide to trade with Segura it will be a very hard fight but if we stick to the plan, box, and be in and out, in and out and use our speed then it will be an easier fight.?
Morales said Viloria was ?very strong, very focused. I?ve never seen him this focused before.?
In the ring he executed a near flawless fight plan to the delight of Filipinos who have in recent years embraced Viloria as one of our own with justifiable pride.
What we would wish to see is Ring Magazine keep faith with its often announced philosophy of crowning the man who beats the man. And since Segura was No. 9 in the pound for pound rankings it seems only fair and just that Brian Viloria ? and no one else ? takes his place in the next pound for pound rankings.
To fail to give this fine young man and talented fighter the recognition he richly deserves would be a crime and there have been far too many crimes committed in boxing to add one more to the growing list similar to the blatantly hometown decision where Amir Khan lost his WBA/IBF junior welterweight.titles to Washington DC's hometown boy Lamont Peterson.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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