Brian Viloria

Brian Viloria
Statistics
Nickname(s)	The Hawaiian Punch
Rated at	Flyweight Light flyweight
Height	5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
Reach	66 in (168 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	November 24, 1980 Waipahu, Hawaii
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	43
Wins	36
Wins by KO	22
Losses	5
No contests	2
Medal record Competitor for  United States Men's boxing World Amateur Championships Houston 1999 Light flyweight

Brian Viloria (born November 24, 1980) is an American professional boxer of Filipino descent. He is a former unified WBA and WBO flyweight champion, as well as a former WBC and IBF light flyweight champion. His nickname of "The Hawaiian Punch" was first given to him by Jesus Salud, a fellow Hawaiian and himself a former world champion in boxing.

Amateur career

In 1999, he won the US championships, the national Golden Gloves and the world title as an amateur at the 1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Houston, Texas but lost early at the Sydney Olympics 2000 against Brahim Asloum, who he had beaten in the 1999 World Championships in Houston, Texas. His overall record was 230-8.

He went to Northern Michigan University as part of the United States Olympic Education Center. Viloria bested both Glenn Donaire in the quarter-finals, and future world champion Nonito Donaire in the semi-finals of the 2000 US Olympic Trials. Won a spot on the 2000 Olympic Team by defeating his one time Team mate, Karoz Norman.

Viloria went to the Sydney Olympics as a medal favorite, but lost to eventual gold medalist Brahim Asloum of France, 6-4. Viloria landed dozens of body punches but the judges did not award points for his blows.^[1]

Amateur Highlights

• 1995 National Junior Olympics Gold Medalist at 100 lbs.
• 1996 National Junior Olympics Gold Medalist at 106 lbs.
• 1996 World Junior Olympics Gold Medalist at 106 lbs.
• 1997 National Junior Olympics Bronze Medalist at 112 lbs.
• 1998 National Amateur Championships Bronze Medalist at 106 lbs.
• 1999 National Amateur Championships Gold Medalist at 106 lbs.
• 1999 National Golden Gloves Light Flyweight Gold Medalist
• 1999 World Amateur Championships Gold Medalist
• 1999 USA Boxer of The Year
• Member of the 2000 US Olympic Team. His results were:
  • Defeated Sergey Kazakov (Russia) 8-6
  • Lost to Brahim Asloum (France) 4-6

Professional career

On September 10, 2005, Viloria dropped down to light flyweight and won the WBC title by knocking out Eric Ortiz in the first round with a powerful right.

He defended it once successfully in 2006 and was undefeated in 20 bouts (1 was a no-contest). Viloria's unbeaten streak ended when Mexican Omar Niño Romero won by decision.

In a rematch held on November 18, 2006 at Las Vegas, Romero held onto his title with a controversial majority draw decision, with Viloria knocking down Niño twice. Following the fight, Niño was stripped of his title when he failed a post fight drug test being tested positive for methamphetamines and the second match between them was declared a no-contest.

On April 14, 2007, he fought Edgar Sosa for the vacant WBC title but lost a decision. Viloria then decided to move up to the super flyweight division and began training under former champion, Roberto Garcia, at La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, California.^[2]

Brian Viloria (20-2) won a unanimous decision against Jose Garcia Bernal (26-11-1) in his debut at the super flyweight division at the Alameda Swap Meet in Los Angeles, California on January 5, 2008. Viloria knocked Bernal down in the 8th (final) round. All 3 judges scored 78-72 for Viloria.^[3] Viloria followed that win by scoring four more victories (Cesar Lopez by Unanimous Decision, Fred Heberto Valdez by a 3rd round KO, Juan Javier Lagos by Unanimous Decision, and Benjamin Garcia by 2nd round KO).

Light Flyweight

On April 19, 2009, Viloria moved back down to junior flyweight to challenge Mexican Ulises "Archie" Solís for the IBF Junior Flyweight title, putting in what perhaps is the best performance of his career. Pressured by a fading career due to his past losses in big fights, Viloria defeated Solis, whom at the time of the fight was rated the #1 Jr. Flyweight by The Ring^[4] in the 11th round with a vicious right to the jaw. The official bout stoppage was a KO 2:56 into the 11th round.^[5] The fight was held at Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines, site of Thrilla in Manila, as the co-main event of the Donaire-Martinez fight. Along with the win, Viloria snapped Solis' 11-fight unbeaten streak, 8 of which were title defenses while extending his win streak to 6.

Viloria won his first defense of his IBF light flyweight title on August 29, 2009 by unanimous decision against Jesus Iribe.

For his second defense, Viloria fought Carlos Tamara of Colombia on January 23, 2010. Though leading in points, the referee called a halt to the bout in Tamara's favor as Viloria was close to passing out in the twelfth round. Thus ended Viloria's title reign. Moments following the bout, Viloria passed out due to extreme exhaustion.

Return to Flyweight

In his next fight, Brian Viloria returned to the flyweight division. He fought Mexico's Omar Soto on July 10, 2010 in the Philippines, at the Yñares Sports Arena, Pasig City, Metro Manila. .^[6]

WBO World Flyweight Defenses

On December 10, 2011. Brian Viloria knocked down Giovani Segura in 8th Round TKO. After his fight against Segura, he fought Omar Niño Romero on May 13, 2012 in Ynares Sports Arena, Pasig City, Philippines. In the 9th round, he caught Romero with face and body powerful punches forcing referee Michael Ortega to stop the fight. He retains again his WBO Flyweight title.

WBO/WBA Unification

Viloria challenged Hernan Marquez on November 17, 2012 in a flyweight unification match, staking his WBO title and the latter's WBA crown. He went on to stop his opponent in 10 rounds, thus becoming the first flyweight unified world champion since 1965. Viloria then lost to Estrada via SD.^[7]

Professional record

Outside the ring

On September 6, 2009, Viloria, who was in attendance at the World Cup of Pool, was chosen to perform the ceremonial break shot before the start of the final match. Because he never played pocket billiards before, Viloria miscued on his first attempt but finally achieved the shot on his second.^[8]

See also

• List of WBC world champions
• Reigning boxing champions
• List of Filipino boxing world champions

References

1. Bill Dwyre (January 22, 2010). "Boxer Brian Viloria is poised for another run at the top". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
2. Philstar.net - Viloria back to warrior's mentality
3. LATimes.com, Martirosyan scores impressive victory
4. ringtv.com - Ring Magazine Jr. Flyweight Ratings
5. ringtv.com - Donaire and Viloria score impressive KOs in the Philippines
6. Nathanielsz, Ronnie (July 10, 2010). "Brian Viloria Beats Omar Soto By Split Decision Nod". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
7. Maloney L. Samaco (November 19, 2012). "BRIAN VILORIA UNIFIES WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE AFTER 47 YEARS". PhilBoxing.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
8. Randall Parker. "Philippines "B" Team Earns An "A": 2009 World Cup Of Pool Champs". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2009-09-07.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Brian Viloria from BoxRec
• 2000 Olympics team info
• Profile