When Brian Viloria takes to the ring tonight to defend his IBF light-flyweight championship against Mexico's Jesus Iribe, he'll carry with him as many hopes, aspirations and expectations as his 107-pound frame can bear.

Already energized by the success of Pinoy boxer Manny Pacquiao, Filipinos here and elsewhere are counting on Viloria to continue the country's return to prominence in the professional boxing world.

Folks in Waipahu, who recall Viloria as a bright, well-mannered kid who loved magic tricks, are keeping a watchful, if sometimes cynical, eye on the 28-year-old boxer's second run as a world champion.

And, to be sure, the local boxing community, which has suffered decades of diminishing interest and attention since the heyday of Ben Villaflor, Andy Ganigan and Jesus Salud, is holding its collective breath to see if the Hawai'i-born former Olympian can draw a big enough crowd to keep local boxing from falling into box-office irrelevance in the new age of MMA.

"The pressure is motivation," Viloria said. "I always try to do well because I want to represent my culture and my heritage the best I can.

"I came from pretty humble beginnings. I grew up watching Salud and Ganigan, and when I started boxing I wanted to fulfill what they had done and represent our state. Coming from Waipahu, I want to do the same and encourage kids to be the most that they can be. The pressure is a positive thing."

Viloria, who now lives in Los Angeles and trains out of the La Colonia Boxing Club in Oxnard, Calif., is in the midst of a stirring resurrection of his professional career.

After a brilliant amateur career that ended with a loss to France's Brahim Asloum in the 2000 Olympics, Viloria went undefeated in his first 20 professional bouts, eventually wresting the WBC light-flyweight title from Eric Ortiz in 2005. He successfully defended the title once before losing it to Omar Nino Romero. A subsequent rematch was declared a no-contest after Romero failed a post-fight drug test.

Viloria would suffer his second professional defeat in a 2007 fight against Edgar Sosa for the vacant title.

With the losses came increasing criticism from those who felt that Viloria had lost his competitive edge amid the trappings of newfound fame.

Viloria's manager, Gary Gittelsohn, allows that his fighter did seem to get "complacent" after his first title.

"After he won his first world championship, he sort of let his other interests take over," Gittelsohn said. "But once you stop treating boxing like a privilege, you start to lose what you've accomplished.

"You won't see Brian complacent again."

Viloria's return to form began with his work with famed boxing coach Roberto Garcia.

Viloria said Garcia's intense training regimen has put him in the best shape of his career. More importantly, he said, Garcia has helped him deal with the pressures and regain a sense of fun in the ring.

"I was putting a lot of pressure on myself and it was holding me back," Viloria said. "(Garcia) had the ability to put the fun back in the sport."

Viloria has now won six straight bouts, including April's IBF title fight against Mexico's Ulises Solis in the Philippines.

PRIDE OF PHILIPPINES

Though Hawai'i born, Viloria enjoys tremendous popularity in the Philippines because of his Ilocano heritage. His victory over Solis, who had previously defeated several prominent Filipino fighters, was celebrated across the country.

Still, Viloria happily concedes that his celebrity pales in comparison to the Philippines-born Pacquiao, a friend and former training partner.

"When Manny fights, the whole country shuts down," Viloria said. "No one comes out. There's no traffic."

Viloria said he and Pacquiao, 30, used to dream about the day they would both hold world championships.

"You could see it coming as we were moving through the ranks," he said. "I'm proud of what he's accomplished and I'm honored to be following the trail that he's blazing."

While Viloria's popularity hasn't necessarily translated into box office success here, fans say he remains a source of inspiration to local Filipinos.

"What Brian has done with his career really makes me proud to be Filipino," said Archie Pahayahay, 45, of Kapolei.

"I came (to Hawai'i) in the early '70s, when there weren't that many Filipinos here yet," Pahayahay said. "It was hard growing up. We'd get picked on in school. But now there's a respect because of what Viloria, Pacquiao and other Filipinos have done. Brian is a Hawai'i boy, but he flies the Filipino flag and that lets people know that we're on the same level, that we don't just work in hotels."

WAIPAHU ROOTS

When Pahayahay's son Aaron became interested in boxing after watching Pacquiao's highlight videos on YouTube, Pahayahay figured he'd get his son the best training possible.

He took him to the Waipahu Boxing Club "just because that's where Viloria came up."

Aaron Pahayahay now comes to the gym every weekday to train under the tutelage of venerable boxing coach Albert "Quick" Silva, the same coach who shepherded Ganigan, Salud, Viloria and countless other local fighters over the course of the past 73 years.

Silva's brow furrows when Viloria's name comes up.

"I coached him starting when he was 8 years old," said Silva, 92. "But he don't know me. He don't call or visit."

Asked about Viloria's rise to world champion, Silva replied simply: "I take the fifth."

Keoni Adric, 35, who used to train with Viloria and now helps Silva run the gym, recalls Viloria as a "nice, respectful kid."

Adric and Viloria briefly renewed acquaintances when Viloria visited the gym shortly after his victory over Solis. Adric, whose 11-year-old son Keoni Jr. holds national amateur championships, said he'd like to see Viloria come back to the old gym more often.

"He's doing good and he's got the belt," Adric said. "I'd like him, when he has the time, to come and talk to the kids and give them some inspiration."

The younger Adric cites Floyd Mayweather Jr. as his favorite boxer, but appreciates what Viloria has done.

"It's pretty good for somebody from a little island," he said.

Wayne Siaris, 43, brings his three sons to the Waipahu gym every weekday (weekends are reserved for conditioning drills) to train under Silva and Adric. Like others at the gym, he's kept tabs on Viloria's rise, fall and renewal.

"I think he used to take his fights for granted," Siaris said. "But he's come a long way and he's overcome a lot. I think it took a lot for him to regain his composure, but now he's in the best shape he's ever been."

Fifteen-year-old Arnold Dinong of 'Ewa Beach, another Waipahu Boxing Club regular, admires Viloria's speed and quickness in the ring, attributes he hopes to incorporate when he heads to Texas in October for an amateur fight.

"He's inspiring," Dinong said.

Others are less impressed. Silva's great-granddaughter Haley Pasion, 16, of 'Aiea said she doesn't watch Viloria and doesn't know much about him.

"He's good, I guess," she said, shrugging. "He has the championship so he must have trained hard."

Viloria is a popular topic of conversation in Waipahu, if not always in flattering terms.

At Leeward Drive-In, one of Viloria's favorite haunts, there was resentment that Viloria hasn't done more for his old neighborhood.

Jeff Tausaga, 20, said Viloria is "OK" but suspects that he got "the big head" after winning his first title.

Peter Mino, 19, attends the same church as Viloria and has followed his career on TV. Mino said Viloria's continued popularity depends on his performance.

"He's cool and all," Mino said. "But if he loses, (expletive) him."

Despite what others might think, Viloria said his affection for his old neighborhood is unequivocal.

"I'm proud to represent Waipahu because the support they give me as a world champion fighter is the same that they give their Pop Warner team or the high school soccer team," Viloria said. "That love and support is always there."

Tonight marks the first time in 33 years that Hawai'i is hosting a boxing world championship bout.

For a sport all but facing a 10-count in terms of popular interest and attendance, it could be either a statement of renewed vitality or a tree falling unseen in a forest.

Gittelsohn said Viloria's champion status, his strong support in the Filipino community and the overall level of competition on the fight card are indicators that tonight's bout could reverse a years-long trend of low attendance for local cards.

He also acknowledges that the promotion needs to at least break even to be considered a success.

"Hawai'i is a great sports city and I know it's been very supportive of its football team," he said. "I'd love to have people who have never seen a boxing match come out and enjoy the show. They'll get their money's worth."

LOOKING FOR FANS

Bruce Kawano, a fixture in the local boxing scene, used to spar with Viloria when Viloria was starting out. He said the fighter has the potential to draw new fans to the arena.

"Brian is a Hawai'i boy, even though he lives in California now," Kawano said. "You can't take the Hawai'i out of the boy.

"Boxing isn't like the old days. But people like Brian can help to bring back the interest. But he's got to win it."

Longtime boxing fan Ben Manuel got a glimpse of Viloria this week as the boxer trained at Kalakaua Gym in Kalihi. He said a Viloria victory tonight will resonate throughout the community.

"People in Hawai'i should appreciate what he's achieved," said Manuel, 55. "As individuals, we live vicariously though his aspirations and accomplishments. You might not own gloves or a mouthpiece, but you can appreciate that what he does helps everyone to aspire higher for themselves."