By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former two time world light flyweight champion Brian Viloria has moved up in weight and will battle WBA flyweight champion Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii  on July 16.

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn told krikya360.com/Daily Inquirer that he gave into the financial demands of Miranda’s handlers because he “just wanted to give Brian the opportunity. I don’t want him to wait any longer. He’s been working real hard in the gym and a tune-up fight at this point is only going to delay things.”

The 30 year old Viloria won the WBC light flyweight title with a sensational 1st round knockout of Eric Ortiz on September 10, 2005 but subsequently lost the title to Omar Nino Romero. Viloria then went after the IBF title  which he won with a spectacular 11th round knockout of the highly fancied champion Ulises Solis of Mexico on April 19, 2009.

Since moving up in weight after losing by a 12th round TKO to Carlos Tamara of Panama in an IBF title defense where he  was well ahead on the scorecards of the judges at the time of the stoppage by referee Bruce McTavish, Viloria has scored back-to-back victories that put him in line for the title shot.

He won a ten round split decision over Omar Soto on July 10, 2010 and then scored a 7th round TKO over Thailand’s Liempetch Sor Veerapol on November 5, 2010. Liempetch is the same fighter who was knocked out in the 1st round by undefeated Froilan Saludar in a WBO Youth world flyweight title bout last February 19 in Imus, Cavite.

Gittelsohn said Viloria has been training under a team led by Ruben Gomez with former fighter Jose Morales who “is really terrific on the conditioning end and great with the mitt work and goes running with Brian every morning at Griffith Park..” Also in Viloria’s corner will be Ruben Salazar who has been with Viloria since he was a young fighter and is confident Viloria will be a world champion  once again.

Viloria trains at the Maywood Gym in Los Angeles and his manager said “I am really proud of his condition. He really looks good. I’m proud of his work ethic and the kind of determination  that he needs in order to win. This is going to be a very tough fight against a very solid champion and Brian has his work cut out  for him.