TalkingBoxing News
The Hawaiian Punch Goes Flat
TUE August 15, ROGER GORDILLO - Like a 2-liter bottle left open, losing its pop, so did the aptly named Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria.
Viloria who held the WBC Light Flyweight Title was starting to gain recognition and a following for his crowd pleasing punching power and aggressive style. Going into the OLN televised match last Thursday night, there had been talk about Viloria’s management negotiating a possible big money Unification bout versus Japan’s WBA Light Flyweight Champion Koki Kameda in Kameda’s native Country of Japan.
Viloria, a huge favorite going into his bout at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, was viewed as a mere showcase to build up the young champion’s fan base before a partisan Hawaiian crowd.
His Opponent Omar Nino, an unheralded Mexican fighter who had never fought outside of his native country of Mexico, held a record of 24-2-1, 10 KO’s. In a comparison of the two combatants Nino had been stopped in five in his bout with Gilberto Keb Baas while Viloria stopped Keb Bass in eleven with a body shot.
As the fight began it was apparent that Viloria wasn’t going to come out blazing looking for a knockout as he sparsely threw punches and as the rounds continued he threw less and in the process became the fighter on the defensive getting hit more often with the cleaner harder punches, something that was evident as Viloria’s face began to show signs of punishment.
Whether it was his strength or counterpunching, it is unknown, but for some reason Viloria could not amount any kind of sustained attack and after each passing round Viloria grew closer and closer to losing the match and his title as he fell farther behind on the scorecards as the bout played out.
When asked why he couldn’t fight his normal fight Viloria answered, “I don’t know, I fought a stupid fight, I fought a really dumb fight I just didn’t fight my fight tonight. I just had a bad night”.
So was Viloria looking past Nino with his new found popularity and the prospect of a big money fight looming in the background? “No not at all, I came prepared for this fight," Viloria stated." I just had a bad night, I didn’t fight my fight, I didn’t throw as much as I should have thrown and Omar fought a smart fight.”
It was not clear if the fight was under a rematch clause or if the prospect of a match with Kameda is now lost. But with the fights potential overseas and Viloria now showing signs of vulnerability the fight may actually appeal more to Kameda and his camp, Ala Floyd Mayweather versus Zab Judah.
Rivera challenges Spinks to unify titles
TUE August 15 - WBA super welterweight champion "El Gallo" Jose Antonio Rivera (38-4-1, 24 KOs) has once again challenged International Boxing Federation 154-pound title-holder Cory "Next Generation" Spinks to fight him in a unification bout.
"I'm willing to fight any of the top 154-pounders," Rivera said, "but, for whatever reason, we haven't been offered one deal. A few of the top super welterweights have fights coming up, others won't be fighting until next year, and some just don't want any part of me. I guess Spinks' manager (Kevin Cunningham) was wrong when he said a fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was 99-percent done.
"Well, I'm still here willing to put my belt up against his. It makes too much sense for it to not to happen. The winner will have more leverage in future negotiations with two titles, neither one of us has a big money fight lined up against anybody else, and we're both promoted by Don King. We can do it in New England or St. Louis. They've made some disparaging remarks about me, but we can settle things in the ring. I'm ready for Cory Spinks. Is he ready for Jose Antonio Rivera?"
Training Camp Notes: Guzman Stronger and More Powerful
TUE August 15 - Undefeated former world champion Joan Guzman has never looked so good a month away from a fight.
“We started with a new strength and conditioning coach for this fight, and Guzman is eating five times a day, looking really cut and hitting with a lot of power,” said manager Jose Nunez. “He’s way ahead of schedule. We’d be ready to fight this weekend if we had to.”
Guzman (25-0, 17 KOs), of the Dominican Republic, challenges Jorge Barrios Sept. 16 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for his World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight title.
“I’m excited and ready,” said Guzman, a former WBO junior featherweight champion, who is promoted by Sycuan Ringside Promotions. “I give Barrios a lot of credit. He’s a tough fighter, but I’m not coming to lose. I want to make history in the Dominican Republic as the only fighter with two world titles.”
“We have every confidence Joan can beat Barrios and win his second world championship,” said Glenn Quiroga, President of Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
For his past few fights, Guzman uses a certain motivational tool to get him focused on his opponent.
“We’ve got a life-size cardboard cutout of Barrios,” Nunez said. “When Guzman is doing sit-ups, push-ups, hitting the bag or sparring, the thing is right there in front of him. He definitely knows who he’s training for.”
Guzman captured the WBO junior featherweight title Aug. 17, 2002, by stopping Fabio Oliva in the third round. He successfully defended the title twice before voluntarily vacating the belt to move up in weight.
“This fight is the next step in Joan establishing himself as the best 130-pounder in the world, just as he was at 122 pounds,” said Scott Woodworth, Vice President, Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
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