Brian Viloria: The Return of a Boxing Gladiator

Filipino fighter Brian Viloria showed a new fighting form against undefeated Mexican IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis to score a knock out and win the IBF flyweight title last April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines.

Viloria, humbled by three successive losses after winning the WBC world junior flyweight title in 2005, regaled a predominantly Filipino crowd with his vaunted speed and unusual display of ring savvy and ferocity that sent Solis to his knees in the 11th of the scheduled 12 rounds.

It was a close battle all throughout, with Viloria and Solis gamely engaging ferocious exchanges that kept the crowd at the edge of their seats until the Filipino’s hard right crossed Solis’ head towards the end of the 11th round and sent the champion reeling to the canvass and hitting it flat.

Unlike previous fights where he usually wove in and out of his opponents and scored with counter punches, Viloria engaged Solis in solid exchanges that drew a cut near the Mexican’s eye lid. 

Solis gamely took Viloria’s punishing blows, while he delivered his own with equal rage and ferocity that equaled the intensity of the historic “Thrilla in Manila” Ali vs. Frazier bout in the same venue in 1975.

After the bout, Viloria declared that he really worked hard for this fight and that he intentionally wanted to evolve into a more aggressive and intense fighter.  “After this, no one could accuse me of not having the heart of a champion,” he smiled.

Viloria won his first title in the 2005 by knocking out Eric Ortiz. He was successful in his first title defense against Mexican Jose Antonio Aguirre, but his flawless record of 20 wins was snapped by Mexican Omar Nino Romero who defeated him twice.

In April 2007, he attempted to wrest the WBC junior lightweight title from Edgar Sosa, but lost again by decision to signal what everyone thought was the end of his young career. 

His victory over Solis was both  a vindication and fulfillment a cherish dream to fight before his countrymen after spending more than half of 28 years of life in the United States.  

He said he prepared long and hard for Sunday’s fight that once again catapulted him back to big-time boxing where he belonged as a former world champion.  Last year, he fought five times in non-televised fights held in swapmeets, places where people shop. 

“It’s an not an easy experience, but I felt good and a better person because of the experience,” he said.

Viloria’s hand speed, intensity, and aggression had made the big difference that spelled his victory over Solis, an equally skillful fighter who kept his poise and championship form despite the knockout loss. 

This is the Filipino flash’s sixth straight victory after his agonizing loss to Sosa and considers it a vindication after years of slump and a signal of new promising career ahead.

For now, the champ is not looking forward to another fight, especially in a swapmeet, but ageless boxing promoter Bob Arum is not about ready to give  Viloria a long respite.

Already, Arum is looking at a possible showdown with undefeated Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon sometime in May, definitely not in another swapmeet but once again at the Araneta coliseum, also known as the Big Dome, that could accommodate up to 20,000 people and could be watched live on television by millions more across the world.