On January 23, 2010, Brian “Pinoy Punch” Viloria is set to defend his IBF Light Flyweight title against Columbian Carlos “El Olimpico” Tamara at the Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
With a record of 26-2, 15 KO’s, Viloria stands as the #1 ranked Light Flyweight. He was originally set to fight Omar “Giant Killer” Nino Romero, 28-3, 11 KO’s, sometime in December, but as the fight fell through, Viloria opted to get a fight against contender Tamara, 20-4, 14 KO’s.
Hailing from Waipahu, Hawaii, Viloria’s fight record reveals two key losses. But aside from these two losses, Viloria’s career has excellent promise with a pace that would allow enough time to recover from a bout and get ready for the next scheduled fight. Viloria is a very solid fighter with an excellent 1-2 (jab-cross) combination, combined with good balance and footwork.
I usually don’t like to begin with a fighter’s losses, but I think losses that go back to the beginning of a fight career are relevant.
Going back to August 2006, Viloria fought against Omar “Giant Killer” Nino Romero in the defense of his WBC Light Flyweight title which he had held since September 2005. Viloria lost this fight over 12 rounds in a unanimous decision. Three months later in November 2006, Viloria fought against Romero which ended in an NC (no contest) decision after Romero failed a post fight drug test. The WBC Light Flyweight title is now held by Rodel “Kid Rapido” Mayol.
In April 2007, Viloria went on to face Edgar Sosa for the vacant WBC Light Flyweight title. Viloria lost the fight in a majority decision over 12 rounds. Despite these disappointments in 2006 and 2007, Viloria has easily recovered and is now winning fights and makes him the number one ranked Light Flyweight and current titleholder for the IBF Light Flyweight title.
Following his loss to Sosa, Viloria followed up with another fight in January 2008 against Colombia’s Jose Garcia Bernal.
Against Bernal, Viloria won over eight rounds in a unanimous decision. A month later in February, he went on to another eight round bout where he defeated Texan Cesar Lopez, over 8 rounds in a unanimous decision. Three months later in May 2008, Viloria fought a shorter bout against Mexican fighter Fred Heberto Valdez over three rounds in a scheduled ten round bout.
At 2:10 into the 3rd round, Viloria scored the knockout.
As 2008 continued, Viloria was not without a fight and really had no rest between bouts. In September 2008, he went on to fight against Juan Javier Lagos over eight rounds in a scheduled eight round bout with a unanimous decision.
Finally, in December 2008, Viloria went on to defeat Benjamin Garcia with a 2nd round KO in a scheduled ten round bout.
In 2008 alone, Viloria went on to fight 5 bouts with three of the five being 8 round scheduled fights. In all three scheduled eight round bouts, Viloria fought all 8 rounds or all 24 rounds and did emerge as the winner. However, I’d question if whether all three bouts were really good tune-ups or even necessary. His other 2 fights were for scheduled 10 rounds each with the fight against Valdez ending in the 3rd and the other ending in the 2nd round against Garcia.
As Viloria is doing something right in holding the IBF Lightweight title, his pace in 2008 should be a lesson that a fighter needn’t take as many fights to be considered a contender.
If you look at the records of the fighters Viloria took on in 2008, all were sub-par to a degree with 50-50 records of wins and losses. There is no distinction between punches – jabs, crosses, and hooks all hurt, regardless of fight records. For Viloria, 2008 gave him a lot of ring time, but perhaps put his body through some unnecessary punishment in order to garnish a reputation as the #1 ranked light flyweight.
In 2009, I’d offer that Viloria took some much needed rest. In April 2009, four months after his victory over Garcia, he fought against Mexico’s Ulises Solis. With the IBF Light Flyweight title on the line, Viloria scored the knockout in the 11th round. Against Solis, Viloria executed a perfectly timed right cross that connected solidly with Solis’ chin. The knockout took Solis out and Viloria went away as champ.
Finally, in August 2009, Viloria went against Jesus Iribe. Fighting in his home state of Hawaii, Viloria went on to win the scheduled 12 round bout by unanimous decision. It was Viloria’s first title defense.
In taking a brief look at Viloria’s career in the last 3 years, I can only hope that he learns a few things from 2008. A good boxer, with the correct promoter and guidance, he’ll continue to have a career that perhaps will take him into his early to mid 30’s.
At 29, I believe Viloria is in his prime and should be setting pace to go after another title. I’d venture that he needs to take a risk and fight for the WBC Light Flyweight title currently held by Filipino fighter, Rodel “Kid Rapid” Mayo. As for his immediate future, he soon faces Carlos “El Olimpico” Tamara from Colombia. But I wouldn’t be surprised that in 2010, Mayol may just be the next fight for Viloria – sooner rather than later.
