MANILA–Light flyweight champion Brian Viloria collapsed inside his locker room minutes after Colombian pugilist Carlos Tamara seized the 108-pound category of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight belt from the Filipino boxer Saturday.
Tamara won over Viloria via a 12-round technical knockout, leaving the former IBF champion in seemingly serious condition after the match.
The bout, viewed only by a few, was held at the nearly empty Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Viloria, a Filipino who spent his growing up years in Hawaii, and known as the “Hawaiian Punch”, was leading during the first few rounds until he started losing wind on the 7th round.
Tamara reportedly took that chance and fought his way through the remaining rounds. By rounds 9 to 10, Viloria was reportedly receiving grueling punishment from Tamara.
Bruce McTavish, the referee, halted the fight close to two minutes into the 12th and final round. Tamara won by technical knockout.
Information reaching Dateline Philippines said Viloria regained consciousness after his sudden collapse in the locker room and was immediately rushed to the San Juan de Dios hospital. He is now under observation.
The fight with Tamara was Viloria’s third defense of his IBF title; the second was against Mexican Ulisses Solis in 2009 where the Filipino pugilist won by knockout on the 11th round.
Viloria’s career as a boxer boasts of 16-3 win-lose ratio with 15 KOs to his credit.
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