Take it from world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao: former World Boxing Council (WBC) light flyweight Brian Viloria can still go on fighting to reclaim his title but first, he needs to throw more and more counter punches to win the nod of judges.
Touted as “Hawaiian Punch”, Viloria lost his bid to regain his crown from Mexico’s Omar Nino who later lost the title after being found positive of banned substance during his title defense last year.
“I’d say Brian lost to Edgar Soza fair and square. Soza threw more punches and effective counter punches especially in the last two rounds,” said Pacman of Viloria, the lone Filipino casualty in last Sunday’s “Blaze of Glory” at the Alamodome in San Antonio Texas, US.
While it is true that Viloria of an Ilocano lineage from Ilocos Sur up north bloodied Soza’s nose, he lost steam in the last two final rounds and was close to getting spaghetti legs after the taller and grittier Mexican rained blows on him.
“Brian must learn to trust and pray to God wherever he is, especially when he is atop the ring. He must ask help from Him. And he must never give up but step up the fight to his opponent,” said Pacquiao, who always wears a rosary and takes it off only when he is ready to trade fists.
A sage advice from someone who has had enough wisdom and experience to become boxing’s biggest box office king to someone who seems not to have enough courage and burning determination to pursue what he has started into full fruition.
Pacquiao’s observation rings true to form. Viloria was ahead in the scorecards in the first few rounds, particularly in the first three rounds but he allowed Soza to come back in the next three rounds.
The predominantly Mexican–Texan crowd smelled blood , causing the hot-blooded Latinos to go in a tizzy in the 12th round.
The three judges, Max De Luca, Jesses Reyes and Burt Clements gave it to the more consistent slugger?smashed but unbowed Soza.
De Luca and Reyes saw it 115-113 for the Mexican boy while Clements scored it a 114-114 draw which merited catcalls and boos from the audience.
But you can’t take anything away from the ever- gentleman and well-educated Fil-Am Viloria. He even applauded when Soza was announced the winner in their stunning match.
He fought a good fight but somehow faded off when his fighting spirit was badly needed.
Viloria admitted he did his best but Soza stepped it up in the last two final rounds to capture the vacant light flyweight crown.
The disappointed Fil-Am said he might go up to the next weight category because he has difficulty making it in his present division but first of all, he must learn a lesson from Pacquiao ?-never, never give up early and be consistently good all the way.
Soza has improved his ledger to 25 wins –five losses with 14 knockouts while Viloria had 19-2-1 with 12 KOs.
What Pacquiao did not mention is most probably, the 25-year-old Viloria must seek the help of trainer and coach Freddie Roach to assess his strengths and weaknesses and improve on what’s left after the stormy bout.
In short, he needs the attention of someone of Roach’s coaching ability to become a world champion again as soon as possible. (PNA)
