PBC Injected With Needed New Blood in Justin Viloria

LAS VEGAS – Amid the consternation over the aging and decline of some ex-champions fighting under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, some bright prospects seek to replenish the stable.

One of those is 19-year-old junior lightweight Justin Viloria of Whittier, California, the cousin of former two-division champion Brian Viloria who makes an important step up in class Saturday on the pre-pay-view undercard of the Gervonta “Tank” Davis-Frank Martin WBA lightweight title fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Viloria is participating in his first eight-round bout and confronting a 30-year-old veteran in Mexico’s Angel Antonio Contreras (15-8-2, 9 KOs), who has 111 pro rounds under his belt.

“It’s a big step up for me – fighting someone with 25 fights. It’s an opportunity to display what I’ve known I’m ready for,” Viloria told BoxingScene. “If I can put on a great performance against a good opponent and go these rounds, it’s another chance to develop more.”

Viloria said his pressure-fighting style and ability to display versatility – including fighting off his back foot – give him the potential to accelerate through the ranks by fighting frequently.

As PBC has seen former champions Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia either retire or take an extended leave of absence while others, like Keith Thurman, Errol Spence Jr. and Deontay Wilder, have either been sidelined by injury, lost badly or left the company, the need to re-stock and the openings to do so for young fighters is ripe.

In addition to Viloria, PBC is high on its 21-year-old WBA top-ranked contender Elijah Garcia (who fights Kyrone Davis on Saturday's card) while Floyd Mayweather Jr. protege Curmel Moton, 18, fights under the PBC banner and has looked impressive.

“They treat me well and I know what I’m capable of,” said Viloria, who will have his cousin and former junior flyweight and flyweight champion Brian in his corner Saturday.

Brian Viloria, 43, has provided lessons about the boxing business and staying dedicated while functioning as a role model. 

Viloria embraces repeated activity.

“These stages as a prospect are important. We’re planning to develop quickly so we can get in the upper ranks very fast,” Justin Viloria said.

Being raised in Southern California provides for quality sparring and Viloria said he draws from the multiple ethnicities in his bloodlines: Filipino, Mexican, Japanese, Portuguese. 

“You’ll see it all in the ring: the Mexican’s body shots, hooks and pressure, the Filipino’s big combinations, the Portuguese mentality and the Japanese technician,” Viloria said.

He’s previously admired California sparring sessions by Saturday’s co-main fighter David Benavdez (28-0, 24 KOs), calling the PBC stalwart one of Viloria’s favorite fighters.

“Moving up to 175, he’ll be fine,” Viloria said. “He’s going to be able to move up a lot of divisions and dominate.”