ANOTHER world champion of Filipino descent in Brian Viloria has not enjoyed the same credibility and fame as his more successful and celebrated peers in Nonito Donaire and Manny Pacquiao.
Maybe, it?s because of his ridiculous moniker ?Hawaiian Punch, which sounds more like the name of an alcoholic beverage rather than a fighter. Or maybe, it?s because of his diminutive stature of barely reaching five feet. Or maybe, it?s because of his checkered career of having as many disappointing losses as there are significant victories.
Whatever the reason, nobody much gives any attention to Viloria.
He fought for a world title at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig and he drew the same size crowd as those watching the Philippine Basketball Association D-League.
That may soon change after underdog Viloria proved his detractors wrong by stopping fancied mandatory Mexican challenger Giovani Segura in the eighth round to retain his World Boxing Organization flyweight crown in Pasig City .
Referee Samuel Viruet stopped the bout after Viloria smashed another sweeping left hook on the head of Segura. Viloria delivered the blow with the two at the center of the ring as Segura tried to unload his own right-handed haymaker.
The force of the blow and Segura?s own momentum almost sent the Mexican fighter flying into the ropes. It also sent the crowd into a frenzy and saw Viloria himself jumping up-and-down with almost delirious joy at the unexpected victory.
?Every fight is not easy (but) this fight was easy because I trained hard and stuck to my game plan of not getting caught napping on the ropes,? said champion Viloria in a published report.
Even though he was the title holder, Viloria was the decided underdog going into the scheduled 12-rounder.
