Brian Viloria (right) while being pummeled at the ropes by Carlos Tamara during their IBF title fight on Jan. 23, 2009

Loses IBF title to Colombian

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino boxer Brian Viloria is now in stable condition after being rushed to the hospital following his loss to Colombian challenger Carlos Tamara in their International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior flyweight title fight on Saturday. 

Viloria was taken to the San Juan de Dios Hospital after collapsing in his dressing room due to exhaustion following his 12th round technical knockout (TKO) loss to Tamara.

He was later transferred to the Makati Medical Center where he underwent medical tests, including a CT scan.

“Right now he's stable,” Dr. Nasser Cruz of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) told dzMM.

“They did a lot of medical test, CT scan was good, normal. They were worried about the cervical spine because Brian complained of neck pains. They did a scan also. They did chest X-rays,” he added.

Cruz said Viloria will have to stay in the hospital overnight for further observation.

"Boxers who have a difficult fight receive a lot of head punches. So they really have to stay in the hospital just like other boxers like [Oscar] dela Hoya, [Miguel] Cotto and [Ricky] Hatton," he said.

Viloria suffered a 3-centimeter cut on his right eyebrow during the fight. He also sustained bruises on his face because of the powerful blows from the Colombian boxer.

Tamara trailed until latter rounds

According to PhilBoxing.com, Tamara was actually trailing on the scorecards going into the 9th round, but started a scorching rally as Viloria faded in the late rounds.

The Colombian pinned a visibly exhausted Viloria on the ropes in the 12th round prompting referee Bruce McTavish to stop the fight at 1:45 of the round.

Viloria went down twice during in the 12th round. He was too weak to defend himself and opened himself to easy blows from Tamara in the last two rounds.

Sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielz told radio dzMM that Viloria must have been drained from his fight against Tamara.

“He was totally drained and I think that caused the problem for him,” Nathanielz said.

Meanwhile, two Filipinos -- Donnie "Ahas" Nietes and Jimrex Jaca -- won their undercard fights.

Nietes won by TKO in the 10th round of his non-title bout against Jesus Silvestre of Mexico. He decked Silvestre with a right uppercut in the opening round but the Mexican showed toughness and lasted until the 10th round.

Jaca beat Ramadhan Weiru of Indonesia by KO in the 5th round. Reports from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News; Dexter Ganibe, radio dzMM