"I know if I don’t pull this out that will be it for my career. I have to give it everything I have."
BoxingTalk: Brian, how is preparation going for your November 18th rematch with Nino?Brian Viloria: Preparation is going fine. This rematch is very important to me, because I feel I wasn’t being ‘me’ in our first fight.
BoxingTalk: What are you going to do to ensure that you get your title back?Brian Viloria: I’m going to just be me. I didn’t throw any punches last fight.
BoxingTalk: Both you and Freddie [Roach] said after your last fight with Nino that your training was good, so what can you do differently beat him this time around?Brian Viloria: We will have sparring partners that mimic the style of Nino’s.
BoxingTalk: What was it about Nino’s style that gave you problem in your first fight with him?Brian Viloria: There was nothing special. It was just me.
BoxingTalk: Looking back, is there anything you could have done differently in that fight that would have made you come away with your title?Brian Viloria: Oh yeah. I could have thrown a lot more jabs. I could have gone to the body more and thrown more combinations. I thought I was going to land a single punch, and so I was relying too much on my power. I have speed and combinations that I didn’t use.
BoxingTalk: Did you in any way underestimate Nino?Brian Viloria: Yeah. I felt like I was looking past him. He didn’t have anything to lose that night. It was the totally opposite for me.
BoxingTalk: Your speed and power looked relatively fine in your last fight, and still Nino was able to trade with you. Do you feel he was the closest to fighting a mirror image of yourself in the ring.Brian Viloria: I don’t think so. Nino is a gutsy character, but next time I need to go in there and take it to him, not allowing him to back me up.
BoxingTalk: How will this fight on November 18th be different now that you have gone 12 rounds with Nino?Brian Viloria: I know if I don’t pull this out that will be it for my career. I have to give it everything I have.
M
Send questions and comments to: DNick@BoxingTalk.com