Things couldn’t be better in the gym for Brian Viloria as he prepares for Mexico’s Edgar Sosa in the biggest fight of his career, his manager Gary Gittelsohn told The STAR in an e-mail from Los Angeles yesterday.
Viloria takes on Sosa for the vacant WBC lightflyweight crown in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jorge Solis main event in San Antonio on April 14. The bout is a do-or-die situation for Viloria who is out to regain the throne he lost on points to Omar Ni?o Romero last year.
The title was declared vacant when Romero tested positive for methamphetamine after surviving two knockdowns and holding Viloria to a disputed majority draw in a rematch last November.
With Freddie Roach preoccupied in Oscar de la Hoya’s camp in Puerto Rico, Viloria turned to veteran trainer Joe Goosen to work his corner for Sosa. Viloria now works out in Goosen’s gym in Van Nuys, North Hollywood.
“Since working with Joe, I can already see a positive difference in Brian’s mental outlook and physical conditioning,” said Gittelsohn. “Joe is exceeding my expectations as a trainer. He spends quality time with Brian every day and the attention he showers on Brian is just terrific.”
Viloria has looked sharp in sparring and Solar Sports chief operating officer Peter Chanliong was impressed during a visit to Goosen’s gym last weekend.
“I watched Brian go 10 rounds with two sparring partners – one was taller and the other was bigger,” said Chanliong. “He never backed down. He’s back to being the Brian of old. I’m scared of what he’ll do to Sosa.”
Gittelsohn said Goosen’s approach has worked wonders in motivating Viloria.
“Brian’s sparring has been the best I’ve ever seen,” continued Gittelsohn. “Joe has a way of motivating Brian to do things in the ring that I haven’t seen him do before. Brian’s activity rate has improved dramatically. He’s applying pressure and throwing punches all three minutes of every round – no shortcuts. All in all, Brian has been responding to Joe like a thirsty man in the desert. I love what I’m seeing and I’m convinced that we’ll see the best Brian on fight night.”
Gittelsohn, however, said he doesn’t expect a cakewalk. “Brian will need to be at his best,” he said. “Sosa is good, very good. We’ve seen tape of him. He’s rangy, skillful, rugged and motivated to win a world title. Sosa has been quoted recently stating that he intends to box Brian and try not to let Brian get inside, taking a page, I’m sure, out of Ni?o’s playbook. To me, that sounds like a man who is afraid of Brian’s power but we’ll see. One thing’s for certain – Brian is working on strategies for every scenario. It’s another reason I’m so high on the camp he’s having under Goosen’s tutelage.”
As for Viloria’s weight, Gittelsohn said he should be able to make the 108-pound limit without difficulty. “I don’t anticipate any problems in the weight area,” he said. “Frankly, Brian is looking so good now I wish the fight was this weekend.”
