Viloria vows to win more world crowns

VIGAN — Newly crowned world light flyweight boxing champ Brian Viloria arrived here yesterday like a true native son and vowed to win more world titles.

Viloria, who was accompanied by his father Benjamin and Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson, received a hero’s welcome with about 10,000 fans cheering the diminutive fighter on the streets of Vigan .

"I came here to pay my respect and extend my gratitude to my Ilocano kin," he said.

The Hawaii-based boxing champ, who represented the United States in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, was moved by the warm welcome of his provincemates, vowing to "win more boxing titles."

More people lined up the road leading to Narvacan town where he visited his ailing grandfather Oscar and other relatives after a program in Vigan.

The province awarded him with a provincial board resolution commending his sensational first round knockout victory over Mexican Eric Ortiz in Los Angeles, California on Sept. 10 for the World Boxing Council’s light flyweight title.

Viloria is proud of his Ilocano heritage and he showed it. He spoke in Ilocano and ate Ilocano food.

Singson, who watched Viloria fight along with Manny Pacquiao and Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista in Los Angeles, is so enthralled by the 24-year-old Viloria’s skills and predicted he would be "even better than Pacquiao."

His father noted that the Philippines had been relying on boxers coming from the southern provinces for boxing glory. "But now we were able to prove that the North can also produce boxing champs. May my son’s example spark Ilocanos to follow suit," he said.

He told The STAR that they have not been to Hawaii yet after the Sept. 10 fight. "We chose to come here first because we are first and foremost Filipinos and we want to share Brian’s glory to our countrymen especially our fellow Ilocanos.