BIG things are in store for pint-sized banger Brian Viloria. Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn revealed yesterday plans for the Hawaii-born fighter to engage Mexican Jorge Arce in a three-fight series that could rival the looming trilogy involving Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales.
“That’s the storyline most people think would make sense,” Gittelsohn said referring to suggestions that Viloria see action underneath the Jan. 21 rematch between Pacquiao and Morales in Las Vegas.
“But I am scheduled to meet with (promoter) Bob Arum after Oct. 8 and I would know what would be next for Brian,” added Gittelsohn, who will join Viloria here until Tuesday next week before heading to Honolulu en route to Las Vegas.
Viloria will be a special guest at ringside when Arce and Hussein Hussein of Australia engage in a rematch at the Thomas and Mack Center. The winner of this fight is being eyed to square off with Viloria although Gittelsohn made it clear that should Arce emerge victorious they won’t be paired right away.
“Brian and Arce might even fight on the same card against different opponents just like what Manny and Erik are doing,” added Gittelsohn.
For that matter, Gittelsohn is eyeing newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico as Viloria’s most likely rival.
Calderon holds a perfect record of 23-0, five of them by knockouts. A cat-quick southpaw, Calderon has defended his title six times since 2003.
Gittlesohn also added that Arum plans to restage a million-dollar battle in the division which was once achieved by American Michael Carbajal and Mexican legend Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzales.
The superfight happened on March 13, 1993 and was the first million-dollar fight in junior flyweight boxing history and also the first fight in history to head a pay-per-view boxing card. Both players earned $1 million each.
Gittlesohn hopes to achieve the same once Viloria and Arce finally meet atop the ring.
In an interview, the newly-crowned lightflyweight champion was elated when told that his victory somehow brought back the luster in their division which, not too long ago, produced a few but momentous battles.
Viloria produced one of boxing year’s most amazing finish, taking out Eric Ortiz of Mexico in less than a round to crown himself as the new World Boxing Council (WBC) light-flyweight crown last Sept. 11 in Los Angeles.
Viloria, his father Ben and Gittelsohn are going to receive a rousing welcome when they arrive in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur today. The Vilorias are from Narvacan where the boxer spent the first six years of his life.
“I was raised there and I have been coming there a few times after I went back to Hawaii,” said Viloria, who was in the country for the last time in 2001 shortly after the Sydney Olympics.
A broadcast journalism major at the Northern Michigan State, Viloria draped a Philippine flag following his first-round demolition of Ortiz at the Staples Center and spoke in Tagalog when interviewed, gestures that endeared him to Filipinos who were all glued to their TV sets on the very same night when Pacquiao capped a day of boxing with a dramatic win over Hector Velazquez.
Viloria, one of the most articulate and intelligent persons to grace the weekly PSA Forum, also understands the Ilocano dialect since it is spoken at home.
Asked about his nationality, Viloria did not hesitate to answer that he is a US citizen, but he’s the type of guy who doesn’t forget his roots.
Meanwhile, Viloria credited American trainer Freddie Roach for transforming him from his Humdrum style to being a knockout marvel.
“Freddie told me I have to be more aggressive and explosive for people to catch on to my weight division because that’s what it took in order for our division to be popular,” said Viloria, who is billeted at the Manila Peninsula Hotel since arriving Sunday morning from LA.
Viloria’s new-found vigor and style indeed paid off as he already knocked out six of his last seven foes, most notable of which was his demolition of Mexican Eric Ortiz.
“It cornered a lot of attention to me and to our weight division which is most important,” added Viloria, who now holds an immaculate record of 18-0, 12 of them inside the distance.
