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Viloria KOs Solis in Spectacular Fashion; Donaire Outclasses Martinez

Viloria-aguirre1111_medium The "Global Supremacy" card turned out to be a pretty entertaining card, even if the main event was short-lived and one-sided.  Nonito Donaire defended his 112 pound IBF title by beating down Raul Martinez, but Brian Viloria really stole the show with a huge knockout victory over long-time titlist Ulises Solis in a fight that had loads of back and forth action.

 

The first of the main events was Ulises Solis against Brian Viloria.  Viloria has always been a fighter who I've felt like never lived up to his potential.  He's always had a lot of talent, but he's always seemed to lack focus.  He's been a really frustrating fighter to watch, who has seemed to lack heart, and would just fade late in fights and give up at the first sign of adversity.  While he had the talent, he couldn't put it to good use, and just didn't seem to have the drive required to do what it takes to win.

Not anymore.  In a spectacular bout, Viloria knocked out Solis in the waning seconds of the 11th round.  Both fighters really gave all they could in the ring.  Viloria was Solis early in the fight, landing the bigger shots, and wobbling Solis a few times, but every time he had Solis hurt, Solis would fall back into the ropes and Viloria would throw a wild combination that would mostly miss.  He did manage to open cuts over both of Solis's eyes, including a gusher near his left eye, but Solis's corner did a great job of patching them up and they didn't become a major distraction.  In the middle rounds, Solis came back to control much of the fight from the middle of the, being more aggressive and stalking down Viloria, throwing lots of good jabs and doing nice work to the body, but Viloria still having a lot of nice spots where he'd hit the mark with big counters.  In the later rounds, Viloria's corner really admonished him not to let another title fight fall out of his grasp, and he turned the aggressiveness back up to 11.  Every time Solis came in, Viloria came right back with twice what Solis dished out.  And finally, with seconds to go in the 11th, Viloria landed a picture perfect right hand on the chin that wobbled Solis's knees and put him down.  It didn't look like he was so hurt that he couldn't get up, but he just didn't have enough breath and energy left to get back up.  He was on his knees, on the floor, helpless to get up until the referee hit 10, and Brian Viloria was a titlist once again.

It's a great start of a second act for Viloria, who said after the fight that he would have contemplated retiring had he lost the fight.  He fought five times last year, and while he didn't face worldbeaters, it was the trip down the Yellow Brick Road that Viloria needed, and the Tin Man was able to find his heart.  For Solis, it was a nice run, and he should be back.  He's still a very good fighter, and he showed a ton of heart and grit.  He makes great fights, and here's to hoping he can make it onto US TV more often in the future. 

Nonito Donaire easily handled Raul Martinez in the main event.  Before the fight even started, Martinez looked like a midget compared to Donaire.  There was just a massive reach advantage for Donaire, and evidently a massive power advantage as well.  For Martinez to even get a punch off on the much longer Donaire, he needed to jump in to punch him, and Donaire just replayed his KO shot against Vic Darchinyan over and over, tagging him with the left hook with impunity.  He knocked down Martinez twice in the first round with that punch and once in the second round.  Finally, in the fourth round, Donaire put Martinez out of his misery, knocking him way back and down with a big left uppercut.  The ref stopped the fight before Martinez ever made it to the floor.  It was a questionable stoppage, but the result of the fight was a foregone conclusion anyway.  I would have been shocked to see Martinez survive the fifth as badly as he was being beaten up.  Donaire will go on to bigger and better things, and I suspect that's the last we'll see of Martinez.

In other action, Denver Cuello knocked out Hiroshi Matsumoto in one of the stranger, dirtier fights I've seen in a while, but entertaining nontheless.  Sonny Boy Jaro likely ended Eriberto Gejon's career as a contender with a big first round knockout in a mild upset.  Since the first two fights were so short, we got some bonus action and had the chance to see undefeated prospect Drian Francisco, who had tons of flaws but good tools to work with, and who might be someone who can make noise internationally if he can get a good trainer and dedicate himself to improving.

By the way, the crowd was fantastic.  Consider that it's a Sunday morning in an overwhelmingly Catholic country - the locals still got out of their jammies, skipped mass, and came out to the fight, making huge amounts of noise every time their guy landed a punch.  It was the kind of crowd that could really help out a fighter, partly because they know that all they need to do to get the crowd into it is to be active, and partly because it provides a much clearer signal to the judges than just relying on their eyes, which is what they have to do for the opponent.

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for those who didn’t catch this live, i think its still going on on box azteca. i’m currently recording it while watching the rockets destroy the blazers but i skipped ahead and they will be airing every fight.

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Apr 19, 2009 12:09 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

a really fun show

by Duan on Apr 19, 2009 9:18 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I’m genuinely surprised Viloria found the “deep down” to beat Solis, but also happy about it. I like a good shakeup.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 19, 2009 9:48 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

my fellow filipinos impressed me tonight.. (err this morning..)

I thought viloria would lose again by giving up in the late rounds but he didn’t.. I’m impressed.. :)

..the filipino’s were pretty much the only bright spot in todays fights.. Chuck retired, and silva vs leites was pretty boring…

How would you feel if every time you try to engage your opponent would just flop to the floor and butt scoot all the time?

by Anton Tabuena on Apr 19, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

This was a spectacular PPV. Kudos to Arum, for once.

I was able to watch this only because a friend ordered this by accident. He somehow changed the channel when he was about to order UFC minus 97 (might as well give it a zero). He invited me over to watch the fight and was treated to great night of boxing. Even a FOTY candidate with the Solis-Valaria bout. As soon as it was over he tuned to UCRAPC, excuse me, UFC. In less than ten minutes, I began to fall asleep with that borefest and ultimately left the premises. But a decent night of boxing was worth it.

"Count on us! We sponsored Margarito for several years." - CEMEX [Mexico's largest cement company.]

by Sickle on Apr 19, 2009 1:04 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The UFC show was not their best to be sure.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 19, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Viloria

A great display by Viloria! I Just saw a repeat of this on Setanta in the UK. Viloria had a “take a shot to land a shot” mentality which ultimately got him home. There were moments in the middle rounds when it looked as though the momentum would swing toward Solis (maybe just because he was throwing more). Viloria was lander harder and more cleanly though and proved a real tough nut.

I hope this fight puts him back on the radar. I’m not as knowledgeable as any of the guys on these forums and have to admit I did not have any idea who he was. Would a rematch with Sosa be likely? was it a close fight the first time around?

by Brett87 on Apr 19, 2009 3:26 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

it was pretty close

The Viloria that beat Solis would have beaten Sosa that night, I’m pretty certain of that. It’d be a good fight to make.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 19, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Great show, great fights. Enjoyed the repeat yesterday.

"But I was going into Toshi Station to pick up some power converters"-Luke Skywalker

by dinkman on Apr 20, 2009 2:53 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

They’ll be getting a revision right after Hatton-Pacquiao.

Bad Left Hook
Camden Chat

"If they cut my bald head open, they will find one big boxing glove. That's all I am. I live it." -- Marvin Hagler

by SC on Apr 20, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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