Posted on: Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Just don't call him chicken
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist
It became evident that boxer Brian Viloria would have to make some sacrifices if he wanted to expedite an opportunity for a shot at a world championship this year.
Abandoning the 112-pound division, where he has campaigned for the last four years, for the 108-pound light flyweight division was one thing. Then, there was the matter of vacating his North American Boxing Federation flyweight title. No complaint there, either.
But give up chicken adobo, too?
"That's hard," Viloria said, noting that if he ate his fill of the Filipino delicacy, "I'd be fighting middleweight (160 pounds division)."
So, with visions of a World Boxing Council-mandated championship bout against Eric Ortiz in July as his daily inspiration, the No. 1-ranked WBC light flyweight contender now chows down on veggies.
"I should be ready for that (fight)," Viloria, 24, said. "I don't know where the location is (but) that fight is gonna happen. Basically, I'm watching what I eat and working out. I haven't had to half starve myself to death or anything like that."
After winning all 16 fights — 10 by knockout — as a flyweight, 2005 has brought a needed change of strategy as the Waipahu Olympian chases his enduring but so far elusive dream of a title shot. With the flyweight ranks not only formidable but also growing with contenders moving up in weight, the smart move is, indeed, to take a step down in division.
The current WBC ranking is the first by a rating body to reflect Viloria's new direction, which he said he hopes to try out in a tune-up fight against a still-to-be-determined opponent on the undercard of the May 28 Julio Cesar Chavez-Ivan Robinson Showtime pay-per-view card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, hold the chicken adobo and pass Viloria another helping of vegetables. "Whatever it takes to get in line for a world title fight, I'll do it," Viloria said.
For Viloria, cutting back on chicken abobo could give new meaning to hungering for a title.
Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.
Why push your luck and life insurance policy limits against WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (55-2, 29 KOs) when you can drop four pounds and face Ortiz (24-4, 16 KOs) instead? Who needs the problems posed by World Boxing Association flyweight title holder Lorenzo Parra (25-0, 17 KOs) when Beibis Mendoza (30-4) is the interim title holder at light flyweight? Who would you rather face: International Boxing Federation fly champ Vic Darchunian (22-0, 17 KOs) or light fly titleist Victor Burgos (37-13-3)?
