As boxing represented a means of escaping poverty in the America of the 1920s, so it is said to do today for fighters from the Philippines, where poverty is pervasive.
Advertisement ?It becomes the only way out,? said Brian Viloria, a former world flyweight champion who is a native of Hawaii but has lived in the Philippines. ?Fighting is better than living there.?
In what was a boxing dual meet of sorts, two fighters from the Philippines, both associated with Manny Pacquiao Promotions, bested rivals from Mexico at the Sycuan Resort and Casino last night in the presence of Pacquiao, a six-time world champion.
Viloria (23-2, 13 KOs) also won, scoring an eight-round unanimous decision over Javier Lagos of Mexico City and positioning himself to challenge Cesar Canchila of Colombia for the WBA junior flyweight title at Macau in December.
