| |
|
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:
Suarez, Lewkowicz Ask the WBO to Enforce Navarrete Rematch and Begin Negotiations Immediately By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 JULY 2026: Papot Outpoints Eubank; Pacheco Stops Aleem; Suarez Smokes Avila in One Round By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Fiery Exchange at Fanatics Fest: Garcia and Benn Nearly Brawl in New York Ahead of Sept. 12 Title Clash By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026John Michael Zulueta Headlines in Highland Show July 25 in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Results from Dominican Republic: Alberto Puello Stops Ángel Bolaño in 3 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Matchroom Boxing reveals major fights in UK & Ireland schedule from August to October , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Colombia National Congress Awarded "Kid Pambelé" with Grand Cross Knight By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026MILO Marathon returns to Davao on August 2 By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 21 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM WEEKEND ROUNDUP: News, Fallout, and the Long Shadow of Sydney By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Joe Hand Promotions Secures Commercial Rights for Errol Spence Jr. vs. Tim Tszyu Showdown , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Grandy Twins Head to Tampa to Learn from Hall of Famers Antonio Tarver and Winky Wright Ahead of August 14 Homecoming Fight , Tue, 21 Jul 2026Matchroom Extends Brentwood Town Fc Partnership as Principle Partner for Next Five Years as Barry Hearn Obe Provides Significant Investment to Non-League Football Club , Tue, 21 Jul 2026IBA Pro announces departure of Director Al Siesta , Mon, 20 Jul 2026Suarez sends strong signal By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 20 Jul 2026THE CORNER SHIFT: Can Ronnie Shields Rebuild Errol Spence Jr. After the Derrick James Fallout? By T. Chin-Te, , Mon, 20 Jul 2026Yusniel Abrahante Shocks Undefeated Luis Coria in Dominant Performance Live on ProBox TV , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Salamov stops Suarez as Borshchev beats Brito at historic IBA Bare Knuckle US debut , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Pichay re-elected NCFP prexy, eyes more GMs By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Olympus Rising by TWC - Amateur MMA Fight on Saturday; live broadcast via Kalaro 3.0 Sports Super-app By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Suarez Obliterates Avila in One-Round Blitz to Capture WBO International Crown (Photos) By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Spence vs Tszyu, The Biggest Crossroad Fight Of 2026! By Ralph Rimpell, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Blu Girls Power Past Host Peru, Finish World Cup Campaign on a High Note By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Jul 2026Diego Pacheco and Immanuwel Aleem Tip Scales for Carson Showdown , Sat, 18 Jul 2026Weights From ‘Flores vs. Navarro’ and 'Suarez vs Avila' at NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, CA & Live on ProBoxTV , Sat, 18 Jul 2026Tickets on Sale Now for Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Damian Knyba at Prudential Center, Newark, NJ on Sept 4 – Live on TNT and DAZN , Sat, 18 Jul 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|