During the lead-up to his bout this summer against then-WBO flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Miranda, Brian Viloria did his daily grind at the Azteca Boxing Club in the city of Bell, a working class suburb of Los Angeles. That gym just happens to be the property of the family of Ricky Mota, who handles the career of Giovani Segura, the man in line to face the winner of that July battle. Viloria would capture the title by defeating Miranda via unanimous decision.
During this whole stretch, everyone involved knew Viloria and Segura could face each other next.
?It was kinda awkward, yeah,? admitted Viloria of the situation. ?It?s always awkward when you know you?re going to be in the ring with a possible opponent like him and it was kinda weird just looking at him train and watching you train.? Viloria likened it to two football teams practicing on the same field knowing they would play each other down the line.
Or maybe two roommates vying for the same girl?
?You could say that. It?s weird but what do you do?? he says, laughing at the thought. ?It?s a small-knit family, the boxing world. It?s small and you always run into people like that.? During this period, Viloria and his team were mentally preparing for the move. ?We did, even before the fight took place for the world title. I knew we had to look around again and find a different gym because I couldn?t get comfortable in that area because that?s his gym.?
