As a member of the 2000 Olympic boxing team, Brian Viloria was ousted when he lost a controversial decision to Brahim Asloum of France.
Since then, the 5-foot-3 Waipahu native has been leaving little to chance in a professional career that has earned him a World Boxing Council light flyweight title. His professional record is 19-0 with 12 knockouts.
Viloria, the first Olympic boxer from Hawai'i in 44 years, was born in Hawai'i but spent most of his early years in Illocos Sur in the Philippines. He returned to Waipahu at age 6.
A world champion as an amateur, Viloria has maintained a perfect pro record despite numerous complications. Problems with his original manager Lou DiBella resulted in long gaps between fights. Even after he replaced DiBella, Viloria was left with an open schedule when three fights were canceled or postponed in an 11-month span in 2004 and 2005.
His most harrowing trial, however, began when he fought Ruben Contreras, who was forced to quit in the sixth round because of a headache. Contreras suffered a brain hemorrhage and fell into a coma for 10 days.
Contreras survived and was ringside, at Viloria's invitation, when Viloria knocked out Eric Ortiz in the first round to win the WBC title.
Viloria, beloved as much in the Philippines as he is in Hawai'i, defended his title in February 2006 against former champion Jose Antonio Aguirre but suffered a wrist injury that has once again forced him to wait patiently for his next fight.
