Ex-Champ Viloria Eyes Redemption Opposite Mexican Foe

FORMER two-time world champion Brian Viloria fights a Mexican on Saturday, hoping to nail a victory that could bring him back to his comfort zone—the light-flyweight division which he once ruled.

The 29-year-old Viloria faces Omar “Lobito” Soto of Mexico in a 10-round nontitle flyweight fight, dubbed “Unbreakable,” on Saturday at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

It will be Viloria’s first fight since losing his International Boxing Federation light-flyweight belt to Colombian Carlos Tamara via a 12th-round technical knockout in January at the Astrodome.

“My first 15 to 16 fights were at 112 and I only moved down to 108 because of the title opportunity. Now I’m back to where I’m supposed to be,” said Viloria in a press conference on Wednesday in an Ortigas Center hotel.

Viloria, who previously held the World Boxing Council light-flyweight belt, has promoted cutman Ruben Gomez as his lead trainer after the Hawaiian’s long-time guru Robert Garcia apparently chose to focus on training Filipino-American Nonito Donaire Jr., who will defend his interim super-flyweight belt also this weekend in Puerto Rico.

Viloria refused to discuss further Internet reports that Garcia felt that the former world champion needs more time to recover from the brutal loss to Tamara.

“I’d rather not talk about it. Right now I’m focused for this fight because I’m really excited to get back to action that I wish this fight would happen tomorrow,” said Viloria, who has a record of 26 wins and three losses.

The 30-year-old Soto, who has 19 wins, six losses and two draws, twice fought for the world light-flyweight crown, losing to Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia and Omar Narvaez of Argentina.

One of Soto’s biggest wins happened in 2005, a decision over former world champion Daniel Reyes of Colombia in a 12-round world title eliminator in Las Vegas.

Joel Orellana, Business Mirror