Viloria turns his attention
to training for his first
world-title fight

Now that his last opponent
is recovering, the boxer from
Waipahu is focusing
on Eric Ortiz

Brian Viloria is back in the ring.

Since the diminutive boxer from Waipahu is a few weeks away from his first shot at a world championship, July 30 in Las Vegas, that statement might not seem remarkable -- until you consider what happened in his last fight.

His opponent, Ruben Contreras, suffered a seizure 10 minutes after withdrawing from the May 28 bout in the sixth round. Doctors induced a coma to facilitate surgery for a hemorrhage around his brain. It was touch and go.

But Contreras is now conscious and recovering. The Mexican journeyman remains in a Los Angeles hospital rehabilitating. Viloria, manager Gary Gittelsohn and promoter Bob Arum (among other boxing figures) are helping to pay the mounting bills.

"Any way we can help," Viloria said.

Although Viloria started conditioning again two days after what was supposed to have been a routine tune-up against Contreras, Viloria's fallen opponent was his main concern. One of the most gentlemanly boxers around had been served a severe reminder of how much damage his fists can do.

It's bad timing, considering the biggest fight of his career is on deck. So Viloria is thankful in more than one way that Contreras is getting better.

In a phone interview from his home in Los Angeles on Friday, Viloria said he is now able to put Contreras completely out of his mind and focus on Eric Ortiz -- the WBC light flyweight champ whose crown he will try to take at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino at the end of the month.

Viloria promises not to be dogged by memories of seriously injuring an opponent.

"I've been sparring the past couple weeks, no problem. The guy's OK, that was a big relief, a lot of weight off my shoulders," said Viloria, who plans to visit with Contreras, sometime after the Ortiz fight.

Gittelsohn said there is no hesitation in Viloria's punches and no doubt in his eyes.

"Brian has been looking very good in the gym," he said. "He's loose, focused and aware of the moment."

Viloria has had to lose weight for his shot at Ortiz; 4 pounds might not seem like much, but it is when you're going from 112 to 108.

"I just have to watch what I eat and eat less than before," he said. "I'm pretty much a vegetarian now, a lot of salads. It's pretty much of a mind game, and I could go crazy when I see someone eating a big plate of spaghetti or chicken adobo. I can pig out after."

Ortiz, a 28-year-old from Mexico, is 24-4-1.

"At this point I know I'm faster and stronger," Viloria said. "Of course he thinks the same thing about himself. He is the world champion, so it's going to come down to who trains harder and gives his all."

Viloria insisted his title shot wasn't lost back in May, when he pummeled Contreras and then prayed for his life. He said he has not lost his psychological edge when he needs it most.

"What happened wasn't ideal. It put a little pressure on me," he said. "He's OK now, and I'm training like a runaway train. I want to show everyone I'm a true champion."