Viloria itching to get back on ring

MANILA, Philippines - Brian Viloria is aching to get back on the ring, barely a week after he defeated Jesus Iribe of Mexico, and retained his IBF light-flyweight crown in Hawaii.

 “I feel hot. I feel I can fight tomorrow,” said Viloria yesterday during a press conference hosted by Solar Sports at the Crowne Plaza along Ortigas Avenue.

Viloria came with his girlfriend, Erica Navarro, and at the presidential table was met by fellow world champion Manny Pacquiao.

“Can I hold it?” Pacquiao told Viloria who had his IBF belt sitting in front of him. He handed it over to Pacquiao who cuddled it like a baby.

Viloria said he’s here for a vacation, at the island paradise of Boracay.

“I’m glad to be back after a long, hard battle with Iribe,” said Viloria, who needed 12 rounds, and survived a final-round assault from the Mexican to stay on top of his division.

Right after the victory, he said he took time to celebrate.

“I celebrated with friends and family then rested a couple of days. I was really sore and didn’t want to do anything too strenuous. It’s easy to relax in Hawaii -- just hanging out and eating as much as I could,” he said.

Viloria is looking forward to the bigger battles ahead as he bared plans of moving up from 108 to 112 or even 115 lb.

“Hopefully everything falls into place,” said Viloria, thinking of a clash with the undefeated Ivan Calderon who’s all set to face Filipino Rodel Mayol.

“Without assuming that he would beat Mayol, I want a fight with Calderon. Or a rematch with Edgar Sosa (who beat him once in 2006). I hope this fight happens,” he said.

Viloria, now 28, said he wants as many fights as he could get.

“I want to get as many title defenses. I feel much better than I was two years ago. I want to keep going and going. I want to keep on fighting,” said Viloria.

A champion in his own right, he said he looks up to Pacquiao as an inspiration -- not only for Filipinos but all the boxers as well.

“Manny’s an inspiration to all of us. I trained with him at the Wild Card before and he really inspired me. He’s raised the bar so high so I want to raise my own bar as high. That’s how he motivates me,” he said.

Pacquiao could only smile as he listened, seated beside Viloria. Then he took the microphone.

“Thank you,” was all he could say as he smiled back at Viloria.

Then there was laughter in the air.