On Picture: Viloria wins the IBF Light Flyweight Championship from Mexico's Ulyses SolisBrian vs Jesus Iribe:
Brian Viloria successfully defended the IBF light-flyweight (108 pounds) title against Jesus Iribe of Mexico last Sunday. Brian used his boxing skills to dominate Iribe for most of the bout. He is quite visibly the smaller fighter but he used his jab pretty well and dictated the fight from the outside. It is very intriguing to see Brian go up against another small but skilled fighter in Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico.
Brian also moved his head so as not to give Iribe an easy target. It is not surprising to have learned that Brian was a 1999 USA amateur boxing champion, a 1999 World Amateur Champion and a 2000 Olympian. So Brian's boxing skills were really displayed on the fight. What impressed me with Brian's latest performance is his punch activity and the heart to defend his title and protect it like a true champion. He gave Iribe his best shots and he threw a lot. With Brian's power and skills, that's all he really needs to do -- be a little more active and unload those bombs.
Viloria has compiled a huge lead and Iribe was desperate on the 12th and final round to salvage the fight with an upset KO. Viloria, wanting to give a good show on his home turf, unnecessarily engaged and traded bombs with Iribe. Viloria lost the 12th round, but he clearly won the hearts of his fans -- a terrific final round. (Wasn't necessarily the Pac-Morales I final round, but not too far behind there).
Viloria has won the World Championship before in a scintillating KO. His rise from an amateur standout to a professional boxing champion was outstanding. Yet, on his second defense of his title.. He lost. Surprisingly, Brian was not showing the aggression that propelled him to the top. He seems to be waiting for a chance for an opportunity that was not presenting itself for the entire fight. Brian struggled and failed to reclaim the championship for three consecutive tries. He was almost forgotten until the Solis championship fight where he reclaimed the world championship title.
Last Sunday, Viloria put on a good performance against a good but not great opposition. Here's hoping he takes care of his title a lot longer this time.
Who impressed you more lately, Brian or Nonito?
I may be on the few, perhaps alone, that can honestly say Brian is more impressive based on their last two fights. He knocked out Solis in a fantastic all-out battle and showed his skills and heart against a very good defensive fighter in Iribe. Nonito's opponents does not compare to a Solis-caliber type of fighter and he did ride on his bicycle on his last fight after promising no less than a knock out. How could you promise a knock out and run your way to a victory? Viloria is clearly ahead on the scorecards, and instead of a bicycle out, he engaged on a slugfest.
AJ Banal vs Beranza
AJ's opponent, Jose Angel Beranza, lost 6 out of his last 8 fights. AJ showed that he is a class above Beranza in terms of skills from the onset towards the middle rounds. He was methodical and smoothly dissected Beranza with his jab-straight combinations and then circling to his right side to stay away from counter punches.
Beranza, though veteran of 49 fights prior to this match, looked amateurish with his lunging punches. He was running towards AJ and then throws his punches. AJ's skills were too much for him. Not heart. The Mexican, bloodied and beaten kept on his pursuit and continued to move forward. He pushed and wrestled AJ to the ground at least three times.
AJ still appears to have his stamina problems as he was too weak to stay away from the wrestling Beranza. He was on the ground all too often on the late rounds and failed to mount a significant and effective attack to dishearten the game and brave Mexican. Banal also jumped around too much while on the outside and waiting to counter. If he had used all those wasted energy to throw a lot more or at least stay away from the wrestling tactics of Beranza, he would have been a lot more impressive.
Who's better, AJ or Boom Boom?
AJ does have better skills both in offense and especially on defense. Boom Boom has probably a little bit more heart. Boom Boom has the edge on raw power but AJ sets up and executes his power punch combination better. Overall, I think AJ's the more complete fighter. He needs to improve his stamina and throw more. Boom Boom would have taken out a bantamweight version of Beranza.
The 3 judges scored the fight to AJ, 99-92 | 98-91 | 98-92 all for a unanimous decision victory.
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