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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 1, 2010

Viloria planning to lace up gloves again


By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Brian Viloria

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Brian Viloria is doing fine.

Fine enough to box again.

Viloria, who suffered the first TKO loss of his career two months ago, will fight again in June, according to manager Gary Gittelsohn.

The opponent and site have yet to be determined, but the bout will be in the flyweight (112 pounds) division.

"I think Brian will be more comfortable at 112," Gittelsohn said. "The plan is to get him one or two fights, and hopefully get a title shot by the end of the year."

That Viloria will be fighting again is significant enough. The Waipahu-raised boxer raised concerns about his future two months ago.

His last bout resulted in a 12th-round TKO loss to Colombia's Carlos Tamara in the Philippines.

Viloria relinquished the International Boxing Federation light flyweight (108 pounds) world championship with that loss. He also was rushed to a hospital after collapsing in his locker room after the bout.

"He was simply a victim of dehydration," Gittelsohn said. "I think it's important to note that Brian did not suffer any serious injury in that fight.

"We sat down and talked about the future, and it was completely Brian's decision to keep fighting, and so I supported that decision."

Gittelsohn said dropping weight to make the 108-pound limit had much to do with Viloria's dehydration.

"When Brian started out his professional career, he was at 112 (pounds)," Gittelsohn said. "We decided to cut to 108 because it presented a chance to win a world title, which he did. But in retrospect, 112 is a much more natural weight for him."

Viloria, 29, has a professional record of 26-3, and all three losses have come in the 108-pound division (and all three were world-title bouts).

Gittelsohn said the June bout will likely take place in the Philippines, although Honolulu would be an option.

"There's certainly business aspects involved with fighting in Manila," Gittelsohn said. "But if we can't work it out for Manila, there's also a chance for the fight to take place in Hawai'i."

Gittelsohn said a rematch with Tamara is a possibility, but not at 108 pounds.

"Brian is ready to fight at 112," he said. "If Tamara wants to move up and challenge Brian at 112, we'd certainly entertain that idea."