World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria said yesterday he would rather not fight No. 1 contender Juanito Rubillar, a fellow Filipino, but if the defense is mandated, he has no choice.
During the WBC annual convention in Spain two weeks ago, president Jose Sulaiman ordered Viloria to make his first defense against Rubillar.
“I’m not sure if it’s the kind of fight that fans would like to watch,” said Viloria. “We’re both Filipinos. But I leave the decision up to my management team. If the decision is for me to fight Rubillar, I’ll do it.”
Viloria said he will confer with his manager Gary Gittlesohn, father Benjamin, trainer Freddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum on what to do next when he returns to Los Angeles tomorrow.
Viloria, his father and Gittlesohn arrived from the US last Sept. 25 in a trip arranged by Solar Sports. They visited Viloria’s ailing grandfather Oscar, weakened by a stroke, in the family hometown of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur. Then, Viloria joined Manny Pacquiao and Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista in paying a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malaca?ang last Oct. 3. That same night, the three fighters were feted in a testimonial dinner and tribute program by Solar Sports.
Viloria and his father were scheduled to take an afternoon flight for Honolulu last Oct. 4 but postponed the trip when his grandfather passed away at dawn that day. Viloria’s mother Rosemarie, sister Roxanne and brother Gaylord then flew in from Honolulu to attend the wake.
The Viloria family leaves tomorrow.
“It’s been a memorable three weeks,” said Viloria yesterday in the Manila Peninsula room he shares with an uncle. “This trip was unbelievable from Day 1 when I received a red carpet welcome. I’ll never forget seeing my grandfather alive in Narvacan and showing him my championship belt, the lunch with President Arroyo, the tribute by Solar Sports. Then my grandfather died and my mother, brother and sister came from Honolulu. It was special for me that my entire family was here. I can’t thank Solar Sports enough for arranging this trip.”
Although Viloria said news of his grandfather’s death was numbing, it served to galvanize the family. He delivered the eulogy at the funeral rites.
Viloria’s grandfather Oscar, 78, was buried beside his daughter Jasmine, who died four years ago, at the Narvacan cemetery. The last time Viloria was here for a visit was when he came for Jasmine’s funeral in 2001.
“We all lived in my grandparents’ home in San Jose, Narvacan, for the nine-day period of mourning,” said Viloria. “My grandmother (Candelaria, 72) is really strong. She took my grandfather’s death well. In fact, one day, she joined some of us at the shooting range and told me my grandfather taught her how to shoot.”
Viloria said if given the chance, he’d like to face WBC interim flyweight titlist Jorge Arce of Mexico.
“I watched Arce’s rematch against Hussein Hussein on TV,” he said. “Arce’s really strong. But I think they stopped the fight too early. Hussein could’ve gone on although it didn’t look like he was prepared to slug it out. All I can say is when Arce and I face off, it’ll be a war.”
Arce, a former WBC lightflyweight champion, has beaten Rubillar twice.
As for the possibility of challenging WBC flyweight titleholder Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand, Viloria said it’s a big risk to fight in the champion’s home country.
“I’ve heard a lot of stories about boxing in Thailand,” said Viloria. “It’s like if you’re a foreigner, you’ve got to knock out your opponent to get a draw. I don’t think I’ll ever want to fight in Thailand. But then, if my management tells me to, I’ll fight if I have to. It all depends on what’s on the table.”
Viloria said he probably put on about eight pounds during his homecoming visit. “It’s really no big deal because I can easily take off weight,” he noted. “I watch what I eat and I’m pretty disciplined. It’s not like I didn’t train while on this vacation. I went to the gym at the Peninsula and also worked out at the Red Corner gym in the Intercontinental Hotel. I did some running, shadow boxing and exercises.”
Viloria said he’ll consult Roach on whether to train in Cebu with Pacquiao next month. Roach is arriving Nov. 12 to begin training Pacquiao at the ALA gym in Cebu for the Erik Morales rematch on Jan. 21.
“I’m open to training in Cebu with Manny,” said Viloria. “But it’s up to Freddie. I get a lot of good sparring in Los Angeles, too. He might want me to join the group in Arizona where Manny will train starting the first week of December.”
Viloria and his father will fly directly to Los Angeles tomorrow. They share a two-bedroom penthouse in Studio City, North Hollywood, where they’ve lived the last three years.
Viloria, 24, said he is seriously dating Japanese-American aspiring actress Naomi Usui whose father is president of Mitsubishi US. They met at a concession stand after his fight against Angel Priolo in Los Angeles last year. Usui, 23, is appearing in the sequel to the hit movie “Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“She’s a big boxing fan,” said Viloria. “We bumped into each other at the stadium. I just finished fighting and I had to apologize for the way I looked because my face was bruised and bumpy.”
