Let's see now, in the past year and a half boxer Brian Viloria has gone through a change of promoters, experienced some 11th-hour fight cancellations, seen an opponent hospitalized and, just this week, had a card that was to have provided the first world championship opportunity pulled out from under him.

Clearly, when Viloria's manager, Gary Gittelsohn, talks about "rolling with punches" he isn't just referring to what happens in the ring.

But shed no tears for Viloria.

For one thing, he isn't. For another, his plight doesn't come close to that of Ruben Contreras, who is still in rehab after suffering a brain injury in their May 28 bout. And Lucia Rijker, whose ruptured left Achilles tendon forced cancellation of the July 30th card that was to have included Viloria's World Boxing Council light flyweight bout, will require surgery and several months to come back, her corner has said.

After admittedly being "stunned" and "speechless" that his much-awaited title bout was scratched, Viloria has rebounded swiftly. "It was disappointing, but it was out of my hands," Viloria said, quickly finding perspective. "I'll just have to get ready for another time and another date."

Compared to the career of another Waipahu Gym graduate, Jesus Salud, for whom it was sometimes said there would have been no luck at all if it wasn't for bad luck, Viloria has little to mourn.

Indeed, if Gittelsohn's vow of landing Viloria another title shot with WBC champ Eric Ortiz within "six to eight weeks" holds up, this is only a most temporary of setbacks for the Olympian from Waipahu. Nothing but a bump in the road for someone still young (25) and early (barely four years into a pro career) enough in his career.

Just 17 bouts — and 11 knockouts — into the pros, Viloria is already in the express lane toward a title shot. Consider that three of Hawai'i's most recent world champions, Salud, Andy Ganigan and Ben Villaflor, all had 34 bouts — or more — before getting their first world title opportunities. All but Villaflor were at least two years older than Salud at the time, too. Even among his 2000 U.S. Olympic teammates, Viloria has been on the fast track considering he didn't turn pro until more than six months after Sydney.

After some early-career hand injuries, Viloria has his health, a powerful new promoter (Top Rank Inc.) and a lot going for him.

"Physically and mentally, Brian is ready to win a world title and I believe it is going to happen in a matter of weeks," Gittelsohn said. "Unfortunately, the vicissitudes of boxing are such that in order to be successful that you really have to be flexible."

If there is one thing that Viloria is learning in his brief boxing career beside persistence, it is flexibility.