Viloria gets
title shot

The Waipahu boxer strikes a deal
with promoter Bob Arum and
gets his chance at a new class

Brian Viloria has had little trouble finding the motivation to lose weight lately, since he gets a world-title shot for his effort.

Viloria, 24, will move down in weight class from flyweight (112 pounds) to junior flyweight (105 pounds) and get his first chance at a world championship.

The North American Boxing Federation flyweight champion will take on World Boxing Council light flyweight champ Eric Ortiz for that belt July 30 on the undercard of Top Rank's "Million Dollar Lady" showdown at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas between Christy Martin and Lucia Rijker.

Viloria landed on that card because he is close to signing a "multi-year, multi-fight" promotional deal with Bob Arum and Top Rank, according to Team Viloria manager Gary Gittelsohn. Viloria has been without a promoter since 2003, when he split with Lou DiBella.

"He's giving me the shot I need," Viloria said of Arum. "I'm happy to get to work with the best people in the industry."

Viloria (16-0, 10 KOs) has fought at 112 pounds his entire career and moved up to No. 1 (WBC) in the flyweight class after knocking out Angel Priolo in December.

Viloria was ordered to fight an elimination fight for the right to take on WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, but when WBC light flyweight champion Jorge Arce moved up in weight and took Viloria's spot, Viloria became the top contender at 108 pounds. Arce will fight Wonjongkam on the same card as Viloria's tangle with Ortiz. Viloria would still like to meet Wonjongkam someday, but he wants the gold first. Any gold.

"We believe that Brian should be fighting for a world title right now," Gittelsohn said. "The decision was really principally because Brian can take this title without pushing himself too terribly hard and Pongsaklek was not going to fight Brian until he had to."

The 28-year old Ortiz (24-4-1, 16 KOs) won his belt in March when he stopped Jose Antonio Aguirre in his native Mexico City to take the title Arce vacated. Ortiz has won 21 of his last 22 bouts, but has never fought outside of Mexico. His last loss came in March 2004, when flyweight Luis Valdez cut Ortiz up to win by TKO in four rounds. It would be Viloria's first fight in Las Vegas.

"Ortiz is tough -- he is not a world champ for nothing -- but he is not a big threat," Viloria said. "I never overlook any opponent and I never say they are a walkover, but I'm ready for a fight, any fight. I've been waiting for this."

Although the contract is not expected to be signed until next week, Viloria is already benefiting from his relationship with Arum. Viloria is expected to fight a tune-up May 28 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on an Arum card topped by Julio Cesar Chavez in his final fight.

Viloria's opponent has not been named, but 4-5-1 Mike Thomas, whom Viloria beat by decision in 2001, is expected to accept the fight. Should Viloria win that, he will begin training for a world title for the first time in his 17-fight career and will become the first American to fight for the WBC light flyweight belt since Michael Carbajal in 1993.

"He's responded favorably to every challenge and met every task," Gittelsohn said. "Ortiz is a hell of a fighter and this would be a high hurdle for Brian."