Boxing Commission approves May 15 card

Advertiser Staff

The Hawai'i State Boxing Commission yesterday approved the May 15 boxing card featuring the professional debut of Waipahu's Brian Viloria.

Assuming the contracts for two bouts ö including Viloria's ö arrive in Hawai'i by the end of the week, the five-fight card will take place at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Promoter Tom Moffatt of Entertainment Enterprises Hawai'i, Inc., said he already has the contracts for three of the bouts, and expects the other two by today.

"All the fighters are in good shape and good standing, so I expected to get the approval," Moffatt said.

After a glorious amateur career highlighted by an appearance in last year's Olympics, Viloria will box as a professional for the first time next week against Ben Jun Escobia of The Philippines. The flyweight bout is scheduled for four rounds.

The main event will feature Jesus Salud in a 10-round junior featherweight bout against Fernando "Bobby Boy" Velardez.

The card is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2 (blacked out on O'ahu). The first bout will start at 3 p.m., with Viloria's fight around 4 p.m., followed by Salud's.

Tickets are available at Ticket Plus outlets and by phone at 526-4400.

The scheduled card:

• Junior welterweight, 8 rounds—John Lopez (Hilo), 5-4 vs. Anthony Simkins (Augusta, Ga.) 7-1-1

• IFBA Junior middleweight women's world championship, 10 rounds—Ann Wolfe (Austin, Texas), 6-1 vs. Vienna Williams (Philadelphia, Pa.) 5-0

• Junior bantamweight, 6 rounds—Jose Navarro (Los Angeles), 3-0 vs. Carlos Zambrano (Los Angeles), 3-4-1

• Flyweight, 4 rounds—Brian Viloria (Waipahu), professional debut vs. Ben Jun Escobia (Philippines), 13-13-3

• Junior featherweight, 10 rounds —Jesus Salud (Nanakuli), 62-10 vs. Fernando "Bobby Boy" Velardez, 17-4-1