Manny’s success inspires Viloria

With the "People’s Champ" Manny Pacquiao at ringside, World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight king Brian Viloria was inspired to make mincemeat of Mexican challenger Jose Antonio Aguirre in their 12-round title bout at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last Saturday night.

Pacquiao and confidante Rex (Wakee) Salud arrived in Los Angeles from Manila on Thursday last week and motored to Las Vegas the next day. Pacquiao made his debut as a TV commentator in the Aladdin card, returning the favor to Viloria who was the TV analyst on Solar Sports’ coverage of the Pacman’s win over Erik Morales last month.

Viloria scored a unanimous 12-round decision over Aguirre on scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 117-111. There were no knockdowns in the brawl but Aguirre finished with his face badly bruised and swollen.

Both Pacquiao and Viloria train under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. They’ve become close friends in and out of the gym.

"Manny and Brian know the sacrifices that boxers make to become champions," said Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn. "They see each other in the same gym, perfecting their craft under the tutelage of the same trainer. Brian had the privilege of working as a commentator for Manny’s rematch with Morales. Brian had the best seat in the house as he watched and discussed the action. I believe a fighter learns something special when he sees another fighter, a friend and kindred spirit, dig down to a place where he has never been to achieve greatness. Manny’s success can only serve to inspire Brian all the more and motivate him to fulfill his enormous potential."

Gittelsohn said while he is not looking beyond Aguirre, talk of a showdown with WBC interim flyweight titleholder Jorge Arce of Mexico is inevitable.

"Viloria and Arce are the two internationally recognizable names in the lower weight classes," said Gittelsohn. "Even though both fighters have agendas to satisfy first, each knows that a fight against the other has the makings of the kind of event that hasn’t been seen in this division since Michael Carbajal-Chiquita Gonzalez. Arce’s next fight will be against Rosendo Alvarez, not a walkover by any means."

Gittelsohn said Viloria’s background in boxing has given him the experience to focus on the job at hand, nothing less, nothing more.

"Talk of a mega-fight between these little big men serves to motivate them now," said Gittelsohn. "However, as time goes by, talk of a Viloria-Arce fight will only get bigger and eventually, both fighters will have to turn their attention to each other. I see it happening by the end of this year."

Gittelsohn declined to speculate on how long Viloria will stay in the 108-pound division. Viloria dropped in weight from 112 to 108 to be able to fight for a world title because none of the flyweight champions dared to face him.

Viloria tipped the scales at 107 for the Aguirre bout and appeared a little slow, probably weakened by the loss in weight. It’s widely known that Viloria is a natural flyweight. However, he said weight had nothing to do with his failure to knock out Aguirre.

"We do not yet know how long Brian will stay in the lightflyweight division but I don’t anticipate that it will be very long," said Gittelsohn. "We anticipate that opportunities will soon arise to fight name opponents at heavier weights in big events. Brian is eager to meet those challenges."Regarding Viloria’s training regimen, Gittelsohn said he works himself to the bone and is extremely disciplined.

"When Brian is in training, his typical day begins at 7 a.m. with a three to four mile run in Studio City," said Gittelsohn. "Then, he showers and relaxes with a light breakfast prepared by his father Ben, a nutritionist. At about 10:45 a.m., Brian takes a 10-minute drive to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood where he prepares for sparring and a floor workout. Sparring ranges from six to 10 rounds with as many as three different sparring partners."

Viloria’s sparring is supervised closely by Roach, strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune of Australia, his father Ben, cutman Ruben Gomez and another trainer Macka Foley.

"After sparring, Brian works on the heavy, speed and double-end bags, shadow boxes and jumps rope. At about 1:30 p.m., he leaves the gym for lunch with his father. Lunch is generally simple-fish, pasta, soup, juice or water. In the early evening, Brian alternates between another three to four mile run or pool exercises consisting of resistance training, shadow boxing under water, and swimming laps. Following a shower and rest, Brian has a light dinner, similar to his lunch. After dinner, he relaxes by playing one of several musical instruments, accessing the internet on his laptop, listening to music and watching a little TV. Then, at about 9:30 to 10 p.m., he goes to sleep only to begin the cycle all over again the next morning."

Postscript: Mayor Ernesto Herrera II of Calape, Bohol, has settled his obligation of about P370,000 to the PBA. The debt stemmed from a PBA game he hosted in Calape last year. The promotion grossed over P1 Million. PBA media bureau chief Willie Marcial said the Mayor never shirked from his responsibility of making good on his promise to pay the obligation. Mayor Herrera’s father-also named Ernesto-was a distinguished Senator ... Sonny Landero of Las Vegas and Fil Bautista of Los Angeles were recently given the exclusive rights to sell and distribute Manny Pacquiao’s MP line of clothing all over the US. Landero’s father is a prominent doctor and civic leader of the Filipino community in Los Angeles.