Thanks to a light flyweight world champion, boxing in Hawai'i still carries heavyweight meaning.

Brian Viloria — all 5 feet 3 and 108 pounds of him — is the state's largest figure in a sport that has no international boundaries.

In the rankings for the flyweight (112 pounds) and light flyweight (108) divisions alone, there are world champions from France, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Thailand.

Right there beside them is Viloria. His name — and the "Waipahu, Hawai'i" that often follows it — on display for the world to see.

"It's an honor for me to represent Hawai'i on a stage like this," said Viloria, a 1998 graduate of Waipahu High. "My foundation was built in Hawai'i. I still remember training at the community park in Waipahu. That's where it all started. That's why I'm where I am today."

Today, Viloria is the light flyweight world champion of the International Boxing Federation. The IBF is one of the four major organizations of boxing.

He is on an elite short list of boxing world champions from Hawai'i that includes Salvador "Dado" Marino, Carl "Bobo" Olson, Paul Fujii, Ben Villaflor, Andy Ganigan and Jesus Salud.

Viloria, 28, is at the apex of a career that has already taken him around the world, as well as up and down a realm of emotions.

JUDO TO BOXING

Viloria's first sport was actually judo. He took two years of lessons at Waipahu Hongwanji Mission before switching to boxing.

"My whole family was into boxing, especially my father and grandfather," he said. "I guess my dad waited until I was old enough."

At age 6, Viloria started boxing at Waipahu Boxing Gym under the guidance of Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame coach Al Silva.

"Brian was a natural, but what set him apart was this," Silva said, pointing to his head. "He was smart. When you showed him something, he would do it. When you tell him something, he would do it."

Viloria said boxing became his passion, and the Waipahu Recreation Center was his only playground.

"After school, I would go straight to the gym," he said. "I would even do my homework in the gym before practice. I just fell in love with the place and everything about the sport."

Viloria started competing at age 8, and did not lose a bout until he was 15. By the time he reached his teens, his reputation was established in Hawai'i.

"I was winning fights by walkovers because the other kids didn't want to fight me," Viloria said. "That's kind of when I realized it was getting serious, and I needed to get more experience on the Mainland."

Salud, who also trained under Silva at Waipahu Boxing Gym, recalled Viloria being "a little different" from the other young boxers.

"He was a small kid, but he was so talented," Salud said. "You could see he was a step ahead of the other kids, even the bigger kids."

In the mid-1990s — when Salud was in his prime and Viloria was in his teens — Salud prepared for bouts by sparring with Viloria.

"Yeah, he was that good already," Salud said.

AMATEUR SUCCESS

Viloria had perhaps the most decorated amateur career of any boxer from Hawai'i.

He won numerous national championships, including the Junior Olympics and Golden Gloves.

In 1999, he defeated Cuba's Maikro Romero to win the gold medal in the light flyweight division of the World Amateur Boxing Championships. Viloria was just 18, while Romero was the 1996 Olympic champion.

"That was a big year for me, for my confidence," Viloria said. "I was really busy. I fought in places like China, Budapest, all over Europe, all across the United States. It was grueling, but I came away with some big wins and it made me think ... I can do this."

In 2000, Viloria qualified to represent the United States at the Olympics in Australia. He was considered one of the favorites to win the gold medal in the 106-pound class, but was eliminated in his second bout, which ended in a controversial loss by decision.

"It was bittersweet," he said. "I had high hopes of getting the gold medal. I feel like I failed a little bit, but at the same time, the whole experience was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I got to meet some of the best athletes in the world. I'll never forget that."

PROFESSIONAL START

Gary Gittelsohn remembers when he first saw Viloria.

It was at the World Amateur Boxing Championships in 1999. On the way to winning the gold medal, Viloria bided his time between bouts by playing his ukulele.

"I thought to myself, here's an interesting cat," Gittelsohn said. "And then when I saw him in the ring, I was completely blown away."

Gittelsohn became Viloria's professional manager in 2001, and has held that position ever since. He was primarily responsible for convincing Viloria to move to Los Angeles, where he would have more access to trainers and sparring partners.

Viloria started his professional career by winning his first 19 bouts, including a first-round knockout of Eric Ortiz to win the WBC light flyweight world championship in 2005.

"Everything came so easy for Brian," Gittelsohn said. "But as we found out, you can't just get by on pure talent."

HIGHS AND LOWS

Less than a year after winning the WBC title, Viloria lost twice in a span of nine months.

The first loss resulted in the loss of his championship. The second loss came in his attempt to regain the belt.

Gittelsohn describes that stretch of Viloria's career as "the watershed moment."

"We decided we were going to start all over and try and get the old Brian back," he said.

In 2008, Viloria fought five times — all undercard bouts, including two in a swap meet parking lot.

"It taught me how to be resilient," Viloria said.

The two losses are the only blemishes on Viloria's 25-2 professional record.

In April of this year, Viloria won the IBF world title, defeating Mexico's Ulises Solis by 11th-round knockout.

The old Brian was back. The one with the aggressive combinations, powerful body shots and devastating right hook.

"My most memorable fight, bigger than the first title," Viloria said.

Prior to the fight, Viloria said he gave himself an ultimatum — win or else.

"If I lost that fight I would have reconsidered my career," he said. "It was to that point. I put all my energy, all my effort into that fight knowing that my career was on the line."

ENJOYING LIFE

Viloria is not your average boxing champion. He does not have an entourage. He has no bling hanging around his neck. He's still a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy.

"Brian is unlike any boxer I've ever met, and I've met hundreds," Gittelsohn said. "When he's not training, he's with his girlfriend and his friends and they're watching movies or playing video games. He's the most well-grounded champion I've ever come across."

Gittelsohn said the difference between Viloria the person and Viloria the boxer is "like a Jekyll and Hyde thing."

"Outside of the ring, he is the most decent, honorable, sweet person," Gittelsohn said. "Then he turns into this killer in the ring. It truly is remarkable to see the two sides."

Living in Los Angeles has also allowed Viloria to meet many Hollywood personalities. Among the numbers stored in his phone are actor Mario Lopez and singer/actress Christina Milian.

Still, the number he dials most belongs to his girlfriend, Erica Navarro, who is a nurse in Los Angeles.

"There might be wedding bells. We'll see where it goes," Viloria said. "We've been together four years now, so it's serious."

HERO IN TWO PLACES

Viloria is beloved in both Hawai'i and the Philippines.

His championship victory over Solis took place in Manila.

His first title defense will be on Aug. 29 against Mexico's Jesus Iribe at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

"I say it's the best of both worlds," Viloria said. "I'm Filipino, my family is from there. But I was raised in Hawai'i and went to school there. Both places define who I am."

When visiting friends in Los Angeles, Viloria said he can not shake the tradition of taking his shoes off before entering a house.

"That Hawai'i culture is with me everywhere I go," he said.

Before becoming a professional boxer, Viloria was studying broadcast journalism at Northern Michigan University. He is eloquent and charismatic, which has made him popular with the media in both Hawai'i and the Philippines.

"When you get to that position — a world champion — you're a role model to a lot of kids," Salud said. "You can see Brian is good with that. He has a good head on his shoulders."