Viloria requires additional tests

FORMER International Boxing Federation light flyweight champion Brian Viloria, who collapsed in his dressing room and was hospitalized for apparent exhaustion after he was knocked out in his title defense against Colombia’s Carlos Tamara last Saturday, will have to remain at the Makati Medical Center for at least two more days for additional testing.

Although all the tests conducted on Viloria were clear, including a CT scan, Viloria won’t be cleared by doctors to return home to the United States for at least 10 days, and he will need additional tests to ensure there is no brain swelling, according to his manager, Gary Gittelsohn.

Viloria, whose fight with Tamara was stopped by referee Bruce McTavish at the 1:45 mark of the 12th round at the Astrodome, collapsed in his dressing room and was taken to the San Juan De Dios Hospital on Roxas Blvd. He was later transferred to the MCC.

A report carried by Philboxing.com said Viloria’s attending physician, Regina Makalintal, said all tests conducted on the Fil-Am boxer were clear and there was basically nothing to worry about.

Viloria was talking and wide awake, according to the report.

Gittelsohn said Viloria would undergo follow-up tests as a precautionary measure and will remain in the hospital for another day.

Viloria seemed to be on the way to victory until he withered in the 9th round and fell prey to Tamara’s constant attack.

Viloria collapses inside locker room after bout with Tamara

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.