Viloria back on top of the world

MANILA, Philippines - Brian Viloria is in such tremendous shape he wanted to go out for a run yesterday morning.

“I thought about it. I asked where the gym was or go out because I wanted to do a couple of miles,” said Viloria, the newly crowned WBO flyweight champion.

The 30-year-old Viloria just won his third world title last Sunday in Hawaii at the expense of hard-hitting Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico.

He said the victory made him feel at least five years younger.

“It really did. I’m in such great shape now. I can go 20 miles without losing breath or skipping a beat,” he told the press yesterday.

In January of 2010, Viloria lost to Carlos Tamara of Mexico at the Astrodome, leading all the way before being knocked out in the final round.

He looked terrible and out of air in that fateful round, and was wheeled straight to the hospital after he collapsed moments after the fight.

Many thought they’d seen the last of Viloria, and even the boxer himself had entertained thoughts of retirement.

But it wasn’t meant to be.

Viloria pulled off a string of victories, all hard earned, and got a crack at the Miranda’s title. He took the chance and didn’t waste it.

“After that loss to Tamara I didn’t know what was in store for me. It’s like I hit rock bottom. But I didn’t want to stay there. I wanted to get out.

“That motivated me. I didn’t want to sulk in my own tears and self-pity. That all contributed in me winning another world title,” Viloria said.

He arrived at the Milky Way Restaurant before noon yesterday, with his lovely wife, Erika, a bandage over his right eye, and a big smile.

“It’s been a long road for me but I just accomplished what I set out to do. It was tough. I think this was the hardest one. But I’m happy it came out well.”

“Now I feel I have a big target on my back,” he added during the press conference set up by TV 5 Sports under Vitto Lazatin.

That’s how champions should feel because everybody’s after the crown.

“I know how hard it is to be a world champion. I also know how hard it is to stay as a world champion,” said the former WBC and IBF light-fly champion.

“I’ve felt the highs and lows of boxing. But I’d rather be on this (high) side than there and not knowing where your career is going or when your next fight is going to be,” said Viloria.

The lows, he probably meant, was fighting in some swap meets somewhere in California after he lost his light-fly crown to Omar Niño Romero in 2006.

It’s not where champions are supposed to fight.

“It sucks,” said Viloria, hoping to defend his title later this year, probably against Giovanni Segura or perhaps a rematch with either Miranda or Tamara.

“I’m not the one to pull the trigger on whom to fight. But hopefully this year, and I’d love to fight here.

Again, he was asked about retirement.

“I will fight as long as God wants me to. And I don’t want to put an expiration date on myself. I’m 30 but I feel like I’m 18. So, why stop. Don’t let your age stop you,” he said.

Retirement is the last thing he wants to talk about.