| |
|
One final run for Hawaiian Punch
By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Sun, 26 Feb 2017

Ending a 1 1/2 year layoff, former WBA/WBO flyweight and IBF lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria returns to the ring against Mexico?s Ruben (Hurricane) Montoya at the Ryogoku Sumo Arena in Tokyo on Thursday, vowing to give it his all in one final run for another world title.
?I took over a year off to think about things, to reset, to spend a little more time with my family,? said Viloria who arrived in Tokyo with his wife Erica and their two-year-old son Tyler from Los Angeles last Thursday. ?It gave me time to think about the next step in my boxing career. I?m 36 now, I know I don?t have much time left. I came to a conclusion for me to make one more run, one more campaign towards another world title fight.?
Viloria recently signed a promotional contract with Akikiho Honda?s Teiken group of Japan. He said his comeback fight will be an all out war. ?I?m giving it my all,? he said. ?When I finally hang up my gloves, I don?t want to leave anything behind, knowing I put all my energy, all my effort in the ring.?
Viloria resumed training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under Freddie Roach?s chief assistant Marvin Somodio last November. Somodio, however, will not be in Viloria?s corner in Tokyo. Long-time cutman and father-figure Ruben Gomez will take charge of the cornerwork. Viloria?s Los Angeles manager Gary Gittelsohn will be at ringside.
The road back to the top starts with an eight-round bout against Montoya whose record is 14-4-1, with 9 KOs. Viloria hasn?t fought since losing to Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez by a ninth round stoppage in a bid for the WBC flyweight crown at Madison Square Garden in New York City in October 2015. Viloria?s record is 36-5, with 22 KOs.
In the undercard, Japan?s Ryosuke Iwasa takes on Zamboanga Sibugay featherweight Glenn (Little Navarrete) Medura in an eight-round bout. Medura, 21, is unbeaten in his last nine outings. Iwasa,, 27, has a 22-2 record with 14 KOs, and is the IBF?s No. 3 superbantamweight.
Photo: Brian Viloria (L) trains with Marvin Somodio for his Japan fight at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN , Wed, 18 Feb 2026CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3 , Wed, 18 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced , Wed, 18 Feb 2026Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22 By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace” By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies" By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card , Tue, 17 Feb 2026TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando , Tue, 17 Feb 2026Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026 By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN" , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts , Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS , Fri, 13 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|