MANILA, Philippines — Brian Viloria had no problem fighting for a world title. But the 30-year-old boxer owns a spotty record when it comes to defending his belt.
Viloria (29-3-0, 16 KOs), though, hopes to change all that when he defends his World Boxing Organization flyweight title against the dangerous Mexican Giovani Segura (28-1-1, 24 KOs) next week.
Although some oddsmakers have tagged Viloria as the underdog, the Filipino-American, nicknamed “The Hawaiian Punch,” remains confident in the “Island Assault 3: Champion vs Champion” bout on Dec. 11 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
Boxing experts think that a victory over Segura will make Viloria a legitimate threat in the flyweight division. Moreover, it’s a chance for Viloria to move up to a higher slot in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Viloria knocked out Eric Ortiz of Mexico on his first shot at the WBC light flyweight title in 2005.
In 2009, Viloria stopped another Mexican, Ulises Solis, on his first crack at the IBF light flyweight title.
Just last July, he also clinched the WBO flyweight title over Mexico’s Julio Cesar Miranda.
Viloria, however, absorbed losses in his title-defense bouts.
After defending his WBC light flyweight title against Mexico’s Jose Antonio Aguirre in 2005, he lost the following year to Omar Niño Romero on his second defense.
Viloria kept the IBF light flyweight belt when he defended it against Mexican Jesus Iribe in 2009 but he lost it again in his second title defense the following year against Carlos Tamara of Colombia.