Being a presenting speaker at the HMSA Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Program tomorrow in Kane'ohe will allow World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Brian Viloria to use his career as a platform to talk about athletics, academics and community service.

Less well known is that this mighty mite man of action is also becoming something of an authority on applying the one-two punch virtues of patience and perseverance.

Indeed, for the 19-0 (12 knockouts) Viloria, what has taken place inside the squared circle has so far almost been the easy part in his six-year professional career. There, at least, he has a hand — usually a solid right— in things and can end hostilities in a round or less. Something he has accomplished four times.

Then, there are periods of waiting and wondering — such as now — which can be the hard part for someone so driven to succeed. Times when the biggest opponents of a sidelined champion can be boredom or complacency.

The next time Viloria steps in the ring to defend his crown could mark the end of a six-month absence, matching the longest of his career. Which isn't the way it was drawn. When Viloria got his first world title shot last September, knocking out Eric Ortiz in the first round, that was supposed to finally make him the master of his fate. Or, at least put him in the driver's seat.

But a broken hand in his first title defense — a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Antonio Aguirre in February — and the formalities of the WBC determining his next challenger have forced him to learn new degrees of patience and tested his perseverance.

For someone who would rather be sparring than shadow boxing; trading leather than banging a trainer's mitt, this has taken some getting used to and additional focus.

"You want to go hit, but I have to watch the other guys in the gym (sparring)," said Viloria, who has usually been among the show-stoppers in the Hollywood, Calif., area gym where he works out. "It (the hand) is doing really well, but I don't think I'll start sparring until sometime next month."

By then he might even have an idea of who he puts his title up against next. Maybe.

The WBC has mandated that Juanito Rubillar (38-9) of The Philippines and Wandee Singwancha (48-7) of Thailand, who meet July 18 in Thailand, box-off to determine Viloria's top challenger. Even with that, however, Viloria might have someone else put in place for a possible Aug. 12 title fight in Las Vegas. Or, things could get pushed back again.

"You get a little anxious (wanting to fight)," Viloria said. "I've dealt with it before a little bit, but not as a champion so much. You want to get back in the ring but you know you have to wait and that isn't always easy."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.