WBC champ here to trace roots up north

His winning formula is simple — train hard and never give up. But World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Brian Viloria has got something no ordinary boxer possesses — sheer power.

He showed it when he cut short Mexico’s Eric Ortiz reign with a magnificent first round knockout at the Staples Center recently, a victory that heralded the emergence of perhaps another boxing hero in the class of former three-time champion Manny Pacquiao.

Sure, Viloria was born in Hawaii but the 24-year-old fighter is a pure-bred Filipino, whose father Benjamin and mother Rosemarie hail from Ilocos Sur. In fact, the newly-crowned world boxing champion, who wrapped a Philippine flag around his body and danced around the ring before blurting "Mabuhay Pilipinas!" after beating Ortiz, is in town to share his success with his Filipino fans and at the same time trace his roots up north.

"I’m glad to be back," said Viloria, who quietly slipped into the country yesterday with his parents and American manager Gary Gittlesohn.

Viloria, who actually grew up in Ilocos, is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Arroyo tomorrow and will appear as the main guest at the weekly PSA Forum at the Pantalan Restaurant in Luneta.

Gittlesohn said they will leave on Oct. 4 to discuss Viloria’s next fight in Las Vegas with US fight promoter Bob Arum. Viloria now has an 18-0 mark, including a win over Ruben Contreras, who lingered in a coma in a Los Angeles hospital after being stopped in six rounds.

Aware of the popularity of boxing here, Viloria, one of the few diminutive boxers blessed with quick, powerful fists, said becoming a world champion entails so much hardwork, determination and sacrifices.

"Just don’t give up, train very hard and make some sacrifices to reach your goal to win," said Viloria, who had to slide down to the lightflyweight division because long-time WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand just wouldn’t agree to fight him.

Meanwhile, a hero’s welcome awaits Viloria in Ilocos Sur with no less than Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson leading the grand reception for the proud son of the province. — Dante Navarro with report from Rudy Santos