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Boxing: Ex-world champ Brian Viloria eager to show he can keep up with the best

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/01/16/boxing.jpg"/><figcaption>Brian Viloria with fellow Filipino flyweight Donnie Nietes. Courtesy of Edito Villamor&#x27;s Instagram</figcaption></figure></div>Former 2-division champion Brian Viloria will look to turn back the clock when he climbs the ring at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Saturday (Sunday Manila time).Viloria is featured on HBO’s “Super Fly 2” card opposite a younger, undefeated Ukrainian in Artem Dalakian. It will be for the vacant WBO flyweight crown.Boxing analyst Ed Tolentino said Viloria, 7 years older than Dalakian, will be out there looking to prove that he could still hang with the younger crop of fighters.“Not a few believe he has seen better days; and this translates to Viloria&#x27;s motivation today: to prove that he still has some competitive juice left in his tank,” Tolentino told ABS-CBN News.Viloria, 37, previously unified the WBA and WBO flyweight belts before stepping down to the light flyweight class to take the WBC and IBF straps.But he suffered losses along the way. His last defeat was against then-rising prospect Roman &quot;Chocolatito&quot; Gonzalez, who stopped Viloria in 9 rounds to claim the WBC crown in 2015.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/01/19/18/boxing-donnie-nietes-brian-viloria-lalaban-para-sa-mga-world-title-february-24">Boxing: Donnie Nietes, Brian Viloria lalaban para sa mga world title February 24</a></li></ul>After taking a year’s rest, Viloria came back with a pair of victories in 2017 before setting himself up for a fifth attempt at a world title against Dalakian.“After getting knocked out by Roman Gonzalez in 2015, Viloria is now looked upon as a stepping stone by younger fighters. Artem is unbeaten (with 15 wins) but has not fought anyone credible and he is looking at Viloria as his first recognizable victim,” said Tolentino.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/01/17/boxing-ex-world-champ-brian-viloria-breaks-extended-layoff-with-8-rounder">Boxing: Ex-world champ Brian Viloria breaks extended layoff with 8-rounder</a></li></ul>But the analyst said Viloria has the tools to put away the younger and taller Dalakian.“The Ukrainian is a tall, lanky boxer-puncher. He doesn&#x27;t move his head well and tends to throw wide punches, which Viloria can exploit with clever counterpunching,” he said.Toletino hopes Viloria has already addressed conditioning concerns.“The problem with Viloria remains his suspect conditioning; he is good in the first half, then unravels in the second half. It&#x27;s like seeing two different boxers,” Tolentino said.(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Viloria is seen by some fighters as a stepping stone in their career, but the 37-year-old Fil-Am boxer wants to prove he's still a legitimate contender.

Viloria is seen by some fighters as a stepping stone in their career, but the 37-year-old Fil-Am boxer wants to prove he's still a legitimate contender.

Boxing: Ex-world champ Brian Viloria eager to show he can keep up with the best

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Boxing: Ex-world champ Brian Viloria eager to show he can keep up with the best

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 22, 2018 11:49 PM PHT

|

Updated October 05, 2018 01:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Brian Viloria

Boxing

Ed Tolentino

Artem Dalakian

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