HAWAIIAN PUNCH TO FIGHT AGAIN MARCH 2 IN JAPAN

Text and photo by JOSE MONTY FLORES

LOS ANGELES — It was a rainy and cold Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles. Traffic was not that bad driving towards the Wild Card Gym but as soon as you step into the gym the temperature is set for boxers. You can smell the sweat and tears they put into their training.

Their main goal in life is to be a champion and will do anything to get there.

And there was a champion at the facility that day. Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria, a former WBC / IBF light flyweight and WBO flyweight champion and 2000 US Olympian, who is still working on getting another belt. He has learned from his aggressive mistakes with the reigning WBC world flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.

Viloria lost to Gonzales by a 9th round technical knockout last October 17, 2015 in their title fight held at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

The 34-year old Brian has made a few adjustments and is now preparing for a tune up fight on March 2 in Tokyo, Japan.

His current weight is 122 lbs. and still has two months to make the 112 pounds.

“I’m still in my fighting shape and I’ve never missed weight in my entire boxing career,” said Viloria.

He is eager to prove to all boxing fans and critics that he still has an excellent chance of wearing another belt around his waist.

Viloria is still being managed by Gary Gittleson while the coaches are still headed by Freddie Roach and Marvin Somodio with Ruben Gomez, who has been in his corner for 17 years.

Brian’s heart and soul and main supporter who coordinates for the team is his wife Erica.  The champ’s biggest fan

and who motivates him on raising his arm at the end of the fight is his 2-year-old son, Tyler.

Viloria (36-5-0, 22 KOs) last won against Omar Soto by a 1st round knockout on July 25, 2015 at the Florentine Gardens in Hollywood, California.

Viloria dethroned Eric Ortiz via a 1st round knockout to capture the WBC World light flyweight title on Sept. 10, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Viloria also took the IBF World light flyweight title by stopping defending champion Ulises Solis of Mexico via an 11th round knockout on April 19, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines.

He also dethroned another Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda, who was knocked down in the opening round en route to a unanimous decision in their battle for the WBO world flyweight title last July 16, 2011 at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Viloria then stopped Mexican Hernan “Tyson” Marquez by a 10th round TKO to retain his WBO title and also wrest the WBA super world flyweight crown on November 17, 2012 at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles. Marquez was also downed by Viloria in the 1st and 5th rounds.