Brian Viloria all set for title defense
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 28 Jul 2006
Brian Viloria, (19-0-0 , 12 KO) the Hawaiian born, Narvacan-raised Filipino-American WBC junior flyweight champion of the world will defend his crown for the second time. This time around, he will face the challenge of Omar Nino Moreno of Guadalajara, Mexico. The fight is scheduled as the main event at the Orleans Casino Resort’s Thursday Fight Night on August 10, 2006.
The 25-year old Viloria has never suffered a lost in his 19 professional bouts. Viloria however, almost quit the profession after his fight with Ruben Contreras at the Staples Center on December 16, 2004. Contreras lost that fight via a 6 round TKO. After the fight, he was rushed to the California Hospital for an emergency brain surgery. Luckily for Contreras, he got to the doctors in time for them to save his life. But, he will never box again. The Contreras tragedy affected Viloria to a point where he almost quit boxing.. However, after talking with his friends, his handlers and family, particularly his father, Ben, Viloria was able to get over the tragedy and resumed his boxing career.
In September 10, 2005 Viloria resumed his fighting career. He was fitted against an excellent fighter from Mexico for the WBC Light flyweight belt. Ortiz is best known by the Filipinos for his victory over Filipino light flyweight Wyndel Janiola in a IBF title eliminator fight on September 4, 2004. The Viloria-Ortiz fight was met with mixed reaction by the Filipinos who were at the Staples Center. Those who were quick enough to find their seats at the cavernous Staples Center were very delighted about the fight. On the other side of the coin, those who were slow or were still engrossed in buying their beers and hotdogs were kind of disappointed. This is all because Viloria finished the fight with Ortiz rather quickly. He knock-out Ortiz before the first round was even past halfway and thus won the WBC junior light flyweight title. Those who were already seated saw the KO, those who were not, totally missed it.
On February 18, 2006 Viloria defended his crown for the first time at the Aladdin Casino Hotel in Las Vegas against Jose Antonio Aguirre, the “El Jaguar” from Tabasco, Mexico. During that fight, there were anxious moments for the Viloria fans as on more than two occasions, Aguirre had Viloria in trouble against the ropes. In the end however, Viloria’s boxing skills allowed him to prevail via a 12 round unanimous decision. It was only after the fight that people found out way Viloria did not fight the way people expected him to do. He broke his hand during the fight preventing him from effectively using it and thereby changing his game plan. However, with Freddie Roach at his corner, that was not too hard to do.
Viloria’s second title defense this coming August 10, 2006 will be against Omar Nino Romero . Nino sports a record of 23-2-1, (10 KO). Although records indicate that he has never fought outside Mexico, he comes with pretty impressive credentials. Nino won the WBA Fedecaribe junior flyweight title from another Mexican, Alejandro Sosa via a 3rd round TKO in June of 2001 and he is coming off a 4 win winning streak.
Fighting on the main under card will be another Filipino. Diosdado “ Lion Heart” Gabi. Gabi will be fitted against Jose German Cruz of Mexico. The fight is Gabi’s “come-back” fight after a devastating KO in the hands of Australian Vic Darchinyan on March 3, 2006 at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynes, California.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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