TRYING TO DO IT “RIGHT” THIS TIME!
San Antonio, TX- Brian Viloria gets another chance to recapture the WBC light flyweight title this Saturday against Edgar Sosa of Mexico. At the Raddison in San Antonio, Manny Pacquiao has been the star of the hotel. Accompanied by up to 20 people at times, Pacquiao has done a great job balancing his time with training and entertaining his fans. Meanwhile, all has been quiet with the Viloria camp. He’s been able to slip through the crowds and has quietly been preparing for the what is the biggest fight of his career.
TITLE SHOT THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED
Up on the scorecards after ten rounds, Brian Viloria thought he had the fight won against Omar Nino. But in Las Vegas, no lead is ever safe. Having lost the last two rounds on all the scorecards resulted in a disappointing and debatable draw. Most of the spectators at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas booed the decision and Viloria was obviously upset. The bout against Nino was a rematch for Nino’s crown, which he wrested away from Viloria prior on points. However, even with the upset loss to Nino, Viloria was still the experts’ pick to win the rematch, which he had the right to enforce. With the draw, Viloria was pushed to the back to the pack and it was unlikely Nino would ever give Viloria another shot. Instead, Nino tested positive for drugs and was stripped of the crown and the bout was ruled a no decision.
GOOSSEN HITS SAN ANTONIO TODAY
World famous trainer, Freddie Roach, has been in Puerto Rico for weeks training Oscar De La Hoya along with Filipino prospects Rey Bautista and A.J Banel. Therefore, among other reasons, Viloria and his manager, Gary Gittlesohn, decided to switch trainers and work with another elite trainer, Joe Goossen. With the addition of Goossen, Viloria has received the one-on-one attention he needs to win a world title at this stage of his career.
JOE RUNS A “SMOOTH” CAMP & CORNER
And when it comes to bouncing back, Joe Goossen is the trainer who can make that happen. When Diego Corrales lost due to badly cut mouth to Joel Casamayor, hired Goossen, who previously worked with Casamayor against Corrales. In the re-match, Corrales fought one of the best fights in his career, out boxing the slick Cuban over twelve rounds. With Viloria, Joe Goossen can help the sometimes boxer, sometimes slugger, through possible difficulties against Sosa. Goossen is one of the best trainers in the corner, calming a fighter down and giving brief but specific instructions.
SOSA DOES BRING MUCH RECORD-WISE
At the age of 27 and with a record of 26-5 (14 KOs), Jorge Sosa is at best a fringe contender in a division which does not have an abundance of elite talent. However, Sosa has been in there with world champions, like current IBF titlist, Ulises Solis (twice), and Omar Nino. Ruben Gomez, cutman for Viloria, has seen tapes of Sosa and describes him as tough and capable.
FANS IN TEXAS COME DOWN EARLY
Last November, many fans were surprised when Viloria’s fight against Nino was the opener to the PPV telecast. As a result, some of the late arriving Pacquiao fans, who wanted his Viloria, missed out on the fight. In this telecast, Viloria will once against open the show, not Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. , as many assumed. Also, fans, planning to watch the live at the Alamodome should come before 4 PM as Filipino Bernabe Concepcion, 20-1-1 (11 KOs) will take on Ben Flores, a Houston native, 14-2 (4 KOs). The 19 years-old Concepcion is one of Manny Pacquiao’s prospects that the Pacman thinks can be a world champion.
