Make or break for Viloria

MANILA, Philippines - It took a lot of soul-searching for Brian Viloria to decide that he still wants to become a world champion after a series of ring setbacks where his desire was questioned by boxing experts.

But now, Viloria is good and ready to ascend the throne once more. His chance comes this morning when the Hawaiian Punch takes on IBF lightflyweight champion Ulises (Archie) Solis of Mexico in a 12-round title bout at the Araneta Coliseum.

Viloria, 28, was hailed as the next great Filipino fighter after demolishing Eric Ortiz in a single round to wrest the WBC 108-pound crown in Los Angeles in 2005. Then, he lost the title in his second defense to Omar Nino Romero, failed to regain it in a rematch and seemed listless in bowing to Edgar Sosa on a majority decision in a second bid to retake the diadem two years ago.

Even Viloria’s loyal fans wondered if he had lost his killer’s instinct.

 “I sat down with my manager Gary (Gittelsohn) for lunch one day and we talked about my future, what I wanted to do,” he recalled yesterday. “I’m lucky to have a manager like Gary. He loves the sport with a passion and really looks after the interest of his fighters. He’s my surrogate father. He asked me if I still wanted to fight. He would support me any which way I decide. I dug deep in my heart and soul to find out. I eventually realized this is my life – I was determined to continue fighting and become a world champion again.”

 Aside from Gittelsohn, Viloria singled out two others who showed him the way to get back on track. One is former IBF superfeatherweight champion Robert Garcia, now his trainer, and the other, his girlfriend Erica Navarro.

“I went from Freddie Roach to Joe Hernandez to Joe Goosen, looking for a trainer whose style catered to my own style,” said Viloria. “Then came Robert who brought back the fire in me. Since Robert became my trainer, I’ve won five in a row. In my last fight, I made it look easy against Benjie Garcia who once went the distance with Raul Martinez (IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s challenger in the Big Dome card this morning). My killer’s instinct was back. Garcia went down, got up, and I finished him off.”

Navarro, 27, is a University of Hawaii nursing graduate who works at the Huntington Hospital in Pasadena . She is a full-blooded Filipina with Ilocano roots, born and raised in Hawaii . Viloria and Navarro have known each other since their school days in Hawaii. But they reconnected eight years ago.

“Erica is my mediator and enforcer,” said Viloria. “She helps me out a lot, looks after my diet and watches what I eat. She attends to things for me so I’m not distracted from my training. When I open the ref at home, I know Erica only has me in mind. She puts in just the right amount of stuff to help me in my diet. She’s been a wonderful influence.”

Navarro said their wedding can wait.

“We’re still young and very focused on our careers,” she said. “Our relatives are asking when we’ll get married. God willing, it will come but right now, I’m happy to sacrifice a wedding date for Brian. I’m here to support him all the way. I want him to be fully focused on what he wants to do.”

Navarro, the third of five children, said Viloria is in the best shape of his career.

“Brian was dehydrated when he fought Sosa,” she said. “Doctors shouldn’t have allowed him to fight. Despite his condition, Brian lost by just a majority decision. Now, he’s on weight. He’s eating well. Robert has done a great job training Brian who’s focused, determined and ready to become a world champion again.”