A whirlwind week in Honolulu started yesterday for Waipahu boxer Brian Viloria.

In between numerous media and sponsor obligations, Viloria is putting the final touches on his training for a world title defense. If all goes according to plan, Viloria wants the week to end by putting the finishing touch on Mexico's Jesus Iribe on Saturday.

"It's going to be a crazy week," said Viloria, who arrived in Honolulu yesterday afternoon from Los Angeles. "It's a balancing act. I still have to maintain my training this week, but I'm also obligated to help promote the fight and help sell tickets."

Viloria will defend his IBF light flyweight world championship against Iribe on Saturday at the Blaisdell Center Arena. Viloria won the title by knocking out Mexico's Ulises Solis in April, and this will be his first defense.

It is also the first time in 33 years that Honolulu is hosting a boxing world championship bout.

"There's a little more pressure here because there's going to be more family and friends than usual," Viloria said. "But once that first punch is thrown, you don't even think about that."

It is also the first time in more than six years that Viloria will be fighting in his home state. Because of that, Viloria is dealing with numerous requests for his time this week.

"It's absolutely insane," said his manager, Gary Gittelsohn. "I would guess there are 20 obligations to fulfill this week — everything from radio and TV interviews to other appearances.

"We want to make sure we pay attention to Brian's training, but we also want to make sure that this is a home he can come back to for future fights, so it's important to take care of these obligations as well."

Fortunately for Viloria, he has already completed the bulk of his physical training at the La Colonia Boxing Club in Oxnard, Calif., over the past three months. This week, he will have private workouts at Kalakaua Gym.

"The core training is done," Viloria said. "This week is about maintaining, and it'll be nice to finish up in a Hawai'i gym."

Viloria has just two requests for his friends and fans this week: Don't ask him for tickets and don't offer him any of the favorite local foods.

"I get 10 to 15 calls a day asking for tickets — I can't help everybody," he said with a laugh.

As for the food, Viloria said he will have time to splurge after the fight. For now, he still has to drop three pounds to get to the 108 limit.

"That's not going to be a problem," he said. "This week is all business."