July 25, 2015 at the Florentine Gardens in Hollywood,Ca. featuring popular veteran BRIAN “HAWAIIAN PUNCH” VILORIA (35-4, 21 KOs) vs. Mexico’s OMAR SOTO (23-11-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight bout.
Fight Highlights: Omar Soto down thrice in round 1
Viloria Blasts Soto In Rematch As He Awaits Gonzalez
In their first fight on July 10, 2010 Brian Viloria (36-4, 22 KO’s) pulled out a 10 round split decision against Mexican fighter Omar Soto (23-12-2, 15 KO’s). Five years later, the two fighters found themselves fighting each other in an unintended rematch.
Viloria was originally scheduled to fight Mexico’s Danny Flores in a fight meant to keep the Filipino-American fighter busy as he looks to lock in a fight with Ring Magazine flyweight champ Roman Gonzalez. While Danny Flores was looked as an easy fight for Viloria, Soto was seen as a much tougher fight given the original outcome five years earlier.
That was not the case.
Omar Soto proved to be outmatched and out gunned by the two-division champion Viloria, who was able to three quick knockdowns in the first round. The first knockdown came at one minute and 14 seconds in the first round from a vicious body shot by the “Hawaiian Punch.”
Soto took an 8 seconds to stand up once again. As fighting resumed, Viloria nailed Soto with a right cross that originally did not seem to have much on it, but put Soto down again with 1:14 left in the first round.
Viloria would continue to work the body. A ferocious left hook to the body took Soto down for the final time with 58 seconds left in the round.
The seven month layoff for Viloria seemed to have no effect on his performance and he showed no signs of ring rust. Viloria has won 4 straight fights since he lost the unified flyweight title to Juan Estrada by decision.
Viloria now has Roman Gonzalez (43-0, 37 KO’s) in his sights. Gonzalez, the undefeated flyweight champ, has not announced an opponent for his fight on October 17the.
Viloria believes he knows what it takes to beat Gonzalez.
“I know I have what it takes to defeat a fighter like Gonzalez. He’s been dodging me the last couple of years,” said Viloria.
Viloria has left it up to his manager, Gary Gittelsohn, who is trying to open discussions for a fight with Gonzalez on HBO.
All Brian Viloria can do now is wait.
