Viloria fights for RP in title bid

Hawaii-born Brian Viloria, who speaks fluent Ilocano, says he’s more Filipino than American and will prove it by wearing the Philippine flag on his trunks when he battles World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion Eric Ortiz of Mexico in a 12-round title fight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles this Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time).

Viloria, 24, was only six months old when his parents Ben and Rosemarie brought him to the family’s hometown of Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, to live with his grandparents Oscar and Candelaria for five years. He eventually grew up in Hawaii but remained true to Filipino values.

Viloria learned how to box from his father who in turn, was taught by his father.

"My father wanted to give me something else to do after school other than hanging around in the streets and getting into trouble," says Viloria. "He saw boxing as an alternative to gangs, violence and all of the other bad influences that are so easy to get sucked into."

The oldest of three children, Viloria was inspired to take up boxing seriously after watching the 1992 US Olympic team train in Hawaii. He was 11 years old when the likes of Oscar de la Hoya and Eric Griffin left a lasting impression in the gym.

Viloria went on to post a celebrated amateur career, culminating in a stint at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

"I would’ve fought for the Philippines instead of the US only the invitation came too late," he reveals in a Star interview. "It was the year before the Olympics and I got a call from a Filipino boxing official asking if I could represent the Philippines in Sydney. At the time, I was already in the middle of the US eliminations."

The Sydney experience turned out to be forgettable. Viloria wound up without a medal and lost a close decision in the preliminaries to the eventual gold medalist from France.

"The Olympic system didn’t fit what I trained for," he notes. "I think I won that fight but my body shots were ignored. I guess that’s the way it is in Olympic boxing."

After the Sydney Games, Viloria and his parents flew to Narvacan where they took a one-month vacation. Viloria tries to visit relatives in the Philippines an average of about once in two years but never announces his trips to media.

"My dream is to fight in the Philippines," continues Viloria who looks after his younger brother Gaylord, 21, and sister Roxanne, 18. "I’m proud of my Filipino heritage and I’ve never neglected my Filipino fans."

Viloria says when he takes on Ortiz, he will fight for the Philippines. The bout is in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Hector Velazquez match. Another Filipino, Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, will face Felix Murillo in an eight-rounder on the same show.

Viloria recently inked a contract to be promoted by Top Rank’s Bob Arum. De la Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions and Cedric Kushner lost out in the bidding for his rights after his contract with Gary Gittlesohn expired.

Viloria says when he was with Gittlesohn, there were long gaps of inactivity that delayed the progress of his career. He almost retired last year out of frustration.

Then came the big break. He was matched against tough Angel Priolo last December. Viloria decked Priolo in the third round and finished him off with a body punch in the seventh. The win served notice that Viloria was ready for a title crack.

The problem was the various world flyweight champions avoided Viloria like the plague. So he went down to lightflyweight for the chance to meet Ortiz.

Last May, Viloria warmed up for his title shot by halting Ruben Contreras in the sixth round. Contreras lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital where he underwent brain surgery. He is now walking slowly and talking but will never fight again. Contreras will be at ringside for the Viloria-Ortiz fight and the Filipino is dedicating the bout to him.

Viloria is trained by Freddie Roach like Pacquiao at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.

"I admire Manny’s relentlessness," says Viloria. "He has no fear. I try to pick up pointers from different fighters and from Manny, I like his non-stop punching. I’m a boxer and a puncher. I adapt to whatever style is necessary to win. I fight anyone, that’s my job. I’m not afraid of anybody. If I’m afraid, why box?’’

Viloria, who has four semesters to go before earning a broadcast journalism degree at Northern Michigan University, says when the bell rings, he only has one thing in mind–to win. "Most of my knockouts come from body shots and I always try to end my fights early," he adds. "Freddie is street-smart and well-rounded. He helps me to be a better fighter."

Viloria says his biggest motivational factor is the Lord. "I look to God for advice," the devout Catholic says. "He keeps me humble, relaxed and down to earth."

Viloria is an active member of the Filipino Christian ministry attached to Agape which is the Greek word for "unconditional love" and used 116 times in 105 verses in the New Testament. He attends Mass at the late Bob Hope’s parish St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood.

Viloria’s record is 17-0 with 11 KOs. Ortiz, 28, is making the first defense of the vacant crown he won on a seventh round stoppage of Jose Antonio Aguirre last March. Ortiz turned pro in 1996, five years before Viloria, and has since compiled a 24-4-1 record, with 16 Kos.