Viloria wants foe's hide for 'storybook ending'

MANILA, Philippines - International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight champion Brian Viloria hopes to write a new chapter on his so-called “story book ending” when he takes on Mexican Jesus Iribe in a 12-round title fight Aug. 30 at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The title defense, dubbed “Island Assault” and promoted by Solar Sports, will be the first for the fighter called “The Hawaiian Punch” since wresting the IBF belt from Ulises Solis with an 11th round technical knockout that heralded Viloria’s return to the pantheon of champions last April.

Viloria called that emphatic win, fashioned out before a big weekend crowd at the Araneta Coliseum, “my story book ending.”

“It was a long year. We fought five fights in places where people usually go to shop, not to watch boxing,” Viloria recalled of the days when he struggled to make it back to the top after almost quitting from the sport following a string of losses he suffered in his career.

“That’s why I want to thank my team who worked hard and believed in me,” he said.

Team means manager Gary Gittelson and trainer Roberto Garcia.

Viloria is especially grateful to Garcia, who he said really pushed him hard to get back on top.

Recalling the start of training camp during the Solis fight, Viloria said, “Robert would holler `... and the new IBF light-flyweight champion of the world... ’ every time we’re training at the gym.”

“That goes to show the kind of trust he had in me as a fighter.”

Garcia, of course, knows a great fighter when he sees one. He was after all, a former world champion himself.

The 34-year old trainer once reigned as IBF super-featherweight champion after a decision over Harold Warren in 1998.

After defending his title twice, he lost to then rising boxing superstar Diego Corrales via a brutal technical KO.

Garcia later earned another shot at a championship, but fell short in his bid as he suffered a TKO setback to WBA super-featherweight champion Joel Casamayor.