Viloria takes apart Segura in impressive title defense

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Photo Gallery: Sports Extras: Viloria vs. Segura

With every left hook, a welt on the right side of Giovani Segura’s face grew bigger.

With every straight right, Ring Magazine’s No. 9 pound-for-pound fighter got weaker.

And with every punch, from every angle, that continued to land flush, Brian Viloria legitimized his reign as WBO flyweight champion.

Viloria scored possibly the most impressive victory of his 33-fight professional career, scoring a TKO over Segura in the eighth round of their championship bout this morning at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Manila.

Referee Samuel Viruet stopped the fight 29 seconds into the round after Viloria landed one last left hook to Segura’s temple, which had a softball-sized lump bulging out of it.

The former two-time champion at junior flyweight (108 pounds) finished off his best performance as a champion, handing Segura (28-2-1, 24 KOs) his first loss via knockout.

Viloria (30-3, 17 KOs) scored his first knockout since his last fight at the Ynares Sports Arena, a victory over Liempetch Sor Veerapol that earned him a title shot at the belt he now holds.

"I got over a really tough obstacle with Segura and the world is now there for the (taking)," said Viloria, who improved to 6-3 in world-title fights. "I lost a few titles, but I want to stay a world champion for as long as I can."

Viloria was an underdog heading into the first defense of the 112-pound WBO title he took from Julio Cesar Miranda in July at the Blaisdell Arena.

That wasn’t the case less than a minute into the fight as Viloria began a vicious onslaught to the face of Segura, beating the former undisputed junior flyweight champion however he wanted.

Only when the referee stopped to warn Segura for multiple low blows did the challenger get a break from Viloria’s relentless attack.

The Star-Advertiser had the fight scored 70-63 for Viloria when it came to an end.

"I had to take the punches and take the pain," said Viloria, who suffered a cut over his left eye early in the fight. "I knew it was only temporary and I just had to go in there and get him."

Viloria said it was like old times with his father, Ben, ringside for the fight.

Manny Pacquiao was also there to watch the fight.

Viloria dedicated the fight to former coach and mentor Al Silva, who died in late October.

Segura ended a 10-fight winning streak that included two knockout victories over Ivan Calderon (35-2-1). He vacated his 108-pound crown to take a shot at Viloria’s title.

Viloria was ranked the No. 3 flyweight challenger in Ring Magazine’s list behind WBC and RING champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (83-3-1, 45 KOs), WBA champion Hernan Marquez (32-2, 25 KOs) and IBF champion Moruti Mthalane (28-2, 19 KOs).

He hinted before the fight to reporters in the Philippines that he was willing to move up to 115 pounds.