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 Representing  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

Flyweight

Viloria started his professional career as a flyweight and picked up 17 wins with no defeats. He also captured and defended the NABF Flyweight title in the process before moving down to the Light Flyweight division.

Light Flyweight

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

He successfully defended it once on February 18, 2006 against José Antonio Aguirre (boxer) and was undefeated in 20 bouts. Viloria's unbeaten streak ended when he was dethroned by Mexican Omar Niño Romero on August 10, 2006.

In a rematch held on November 18, 2006 at Las Vegas, Romero held on to his title with a controversial majority draw decision, with Viloria knocking down Romero twice during the fight. Romero was then stripped of his title after failing a post fight drug test for methamphetamine and the decision was overturned into a no-contest.

On April 14, 2007, he fought Edgar Sosa for the vacant WBC Light Flyweight title but lost via majority decision.

Super Flyweight

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 won via 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.^[3] Viloria secured four more victories before deciding to move back down to Light Flyweight.^[4]

Return to 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. 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^[5] in the 11th round with a vicious right to the jaw. The official bout stoppage was a KO 2:56 into the 11th round.^[6] The fight was held at Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines, site of the Thrilla in Manila, as the co-main event of the Donaire-Martinez fight. Viloria snapped Solis' 11-fight unbeaten streak, 8 of which were title defenses while extending his win streak to 6.

Viloria successfully defended his IBF Junior Flyweight title on August 29, 2009 against Jesus Iribe.^[7]

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 awarding Tamara a TKO victory and the belt.^[8] Moments following the bout, Viloria passed out due to extreme exhaustion.^[9]

Return to Flyweight

Viloria returned to the flyweight division against Mexico's Omar Soto on July 10, 2010 at the Yñares Sports Arena, Pasig City, Metro Manila.^[10]

On July 16, 2011 Viloria captured the WBO Flyweight title by besting Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda.^[11] On December 10, 2011 Viloria stopped Giovani Segura by way of an 8th Round TKO.^[12] On May 13, 2012, Viloria stopped his rival Omar Niño Romero in the 9th round for another successful defense of his WBO Flyweight title.^[13]

On November 17, 2012 Viloria challenged Hernan Marquez in a flyweight unification between his WBO title and the Marquez's WBA crown. He went on to stop Marquez in 10 rounds becoming the first flyweight unified world champion since 1965.^[14] Viloria then lost both titles to Juan Francisco Estrada on April 6, 2013.^[15]

Viloria picked up four more wins before facing pound for pound king Román González on October 17, 2015 for the WBC and The Ring Flyweight titles. Viloria was stopped in the 9th round and lost via TKO.

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.^[16]

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. http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jul/24/sp/hawaii807240379.html
5. ringtv.com - Ring Magazine Jr. Flyweight Ratings Archived April 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
6. ringtv.com - Donaire and Viloria score impressive KOs in the Philippines Archived April 22, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
7. http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/171077/sports/boxing/viloria-outboxes-iribe-retains-ibf-crown
8. http://www.badlefthook.com/2010/1/23/1266149/carlos-tamara-stuns-brian-viloria
9. http://www.philstar.com:8080/sports/592204/viloria-claims-split-verdict-over-soto
10. Nathanielsz, Ronnie (July 10, 2010). "Brian Viloria Beats Omar Soto By Split Decision Nod". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
11. http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/6777192/brian-viloria-beats-julio-cesar-miranda-win-wbo-flyweight-title
12. http://www.badlefthook.com/2011/12/11/2627812/viloria-vs-segura-results-eighth-round-stoppage-hematoma-swelling-pinoy-boxing-news
13. http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/5/13/3017206/viloria-vs-romero-iii-results-brian-viloria-excorcises-demons-stops-nino-ninth-round-boxing-news
14. Maloney L. Samaco (November 19, 2012). "BRIAN VILORIA UNIFIES WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE AFTER 47 YEARS". PhilBoxing.com. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
15. http://sports.inquirer.net/94651/viloria-loses-flyweight-belts-to-estrada-via-split-decision
16. 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