Viloria taking preparations to next level

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Brian Viloria has had three months to prepare for his boxing match tomorrow against Mexico's Valentin Leon.

Waipahu's Brian Viloria is 11-0 with six knockouts. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

And the unusual — sparring with world champions. Current world champions.

"Brian wants to reach the level of a world champion, and we wanted him to experience what it's like to be in the ring with the level of a world champion," said Freddie Roach, Viloria's trainer. "This is not something we do with just anybody. Brian is a special talent and we felt like he was ready to step up to the next level in his training."

Roach runs the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Calif. Viloria has been training there since turning professional in 2001.

Viloria is one of about a half-dozen "tough little guys" who train there every day, according to Roach.

Among the others are Rosendo Alvarez, the WBA junior flyweight champion, and Manny Pacquiao, the IBF super bantamweight champ. World-title contenders Gerry Penalosa (super flyweight) and Roger Gonzalez (featherweight) also train under Roach.

Alvarez, who competes at 108 pounds, is usually the only boxer lighter than Viloria (112 pounds) during the sparring sessions. Roach has pitted Viloria against top-ranked boxers as heavy as 126 pounds in practice.

"There was a little bit of worry by everybody at first," Roach said. "But Brian has shown that he can hang with any of those guys."

Roach, who also trains Mike Tyson and is one of the sport's most respected trainers, said Viloria has never complained about the practice sessions.

"It's a fine line," Roach said. "Brian will only get better working against those guys, but we also don't want to push him too hard and hurt his confidence."

In any case, Viloria is emerging as a world contender himself. He is undefeated (11-0 with six knockouts) as a professional, and is currently ranked No. 5 in the flyweight division by the WBC, and No. 6 by the WBO.

"I have a lot of confidence in (Roach)," said Viloria, 22 and a Waipahu High graduate. "Whatever he wants me to do in the gym, I'll do it. It's hard work every day. I know that's what it takes to become a champion."

Gary Gittelsohn, Viloria's manager, said tomorrow's bout is the start of a 10- to 12-month campaign of fights against other contenders. The goal is to have Viloria fight for a flyweight world championship by this time next year.

Gittelsohn has witnessed Viloria's sparring sessions, and said: "You could charge admission to it."

During the sparring sessions, both boxers wear headgear. Roach stays in a neutral corner and offers instruction to both fighters.

"It's the kind of thing that helps both guys," he said. "The other guys like going against Brian because he's so tough."

Viloria's actual opponents have apparently gotten the word.

Viloria has gone the maximum 12 rounds in each of his last three bouts, winning each one by an easy decision. His three opponents spent most of the time circling away from Viloria.

"It's frustrating," Viloria said. "When people know that they can easily lose or have a hard time with me, they run."

As a result, Roach has spent much of the past three months teaching Viloria how to chase.

"He's had problems with movers his last couple of fights," Roach said. "So the thing we've been working on is how to cut the ring off and be a little more aggressive. If he doesn't show that he can do that, every opponent he faces will continue to move."

Leon (14-5-0) should be a good test. He has knocked out six opponents, but has also been knocked out three times, including twice in 2002.

"This guy will battle," Gittelsohn said. "But I don't think there's a 112-pound fighter who can stay with Brian when they engage. Brian has special power, and he's only getting stronger with his training."