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With a convincing win, Viloria could get Calderon next


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POSTED: Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Brian Viloria has a different approach in his second go-around as world champion.

“;Now that I do have the world title again, I don't want to be complacent like I was when I first won a world title,”; he said. “;I want to keep that and keep that fire and keep that mentality I had when I stepped into the ring against (Ulises) Solis.”;

The International Boxing Federation light flyweight champion comes home to defend his title for the first time against challenger Jesus Iribe in the main event of Island Assault, Aug. 29 at the Blaisdell Arena.

The fight, scheduled for 12 rounds, will be Viloria's first in Hawaii since April 2003, and is believed to be the first world title bout here since a WBA world super featherweight fight between Ben Villaflor and Samuel Serrano in 1976 that ended in a draw.

The card will be broadcast live to the Philippines and includes a co-feature bout pitting Filipino AJ Banal (19-1-1, 16 KOs) against Mexico's Victor Proa (26-1-2, 19 KOs).

Tickets starting as low as $35 go on sale tomorrow at 9 a.m. at the Blaisdell box office or online or by phone with Ticketmaster.

“;It's not just Brian coming back home and fighting in Hawaii, which in and of itself will be very special,”; said Gary Gittelsohn, Viloria's manager. “;But the card itself is going to be chalk full of great fights. The card could survive on its own on a premium broadcast from Las Vegas.”;

Viloria (25-2, 15 KOs) won his second world title with an 11th-round knockout of Solis in April.

He was crowned WBO light flyweight champion in 2005 after a first-round knockout of Eric Ortiz, but after one successful defense, Viloria went 0-2 with a no contest in his next three fights.

Knocked down to the bottom of the mountain, Viloria headed for Oxnard, Calif., where he has worked with trainer Robert Garcia. Since then, he has won six straight fights, including three by knockout, and put on a masterful display of speed and power in his win over Solis.

“;Last year we fought five or six times and that kind of gave me the confidence that I lost the last couple of years,”; Viloria said. “;A lot of credit goes to my team and my manager for believing in myself. I love my profession and I found that new passion.”;

Iribe (15-5-5, 9 KOs), who is from the same hometown in Mexico as boxing great Julio Cesar Chavez, will look to play spoiler to a possible showdown between Viloria and WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon (32-0-1, 6 KOs).

Should Viloria get past Iribe and Calderon defeat Rodel Mayol in a rematch in September, Gittelsohn said the two Top Rank fighters would square off to unify the titles.

“;We are hopeful to make that fight and we'd love to make it at the end of the year,”; Gittelsohn said. “;That is going to happen presuming these guys can complete their dance cards properly.”;

For Viloria, that means a dominant win over Iribe.

“;(Iribe) is my Calderon right now,”; Viloria said. “;If I could, I want to put Calderon's face on Jesus Iribe and give it my all.”;

The first fight on the card is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.