Viloria down to business for pro boxing debut
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
As might be expected, Brian Viloria has autographs to sign, interviews to grant and unfamiliar hands to shake this weekend.
But make no mistake, the Waipahu boxer is here on business.
"This is not a vacation," said Viloria, 20. "I'm happy to be home in Hawai'i, but I'm here for another reason."
Viloria will make his professional boxing debut on Tuesday at the Hawai'i Convention Center. After a glorious amateur career that included a world championship in 1999 and an Olympic appearance last year, Viloria will box for pay against Ben Jun Escobia of The Philippines in a scheduled four-round flyweight (112 pounds) match.
The bout will be part of a five-fight card scheduled to start at 3 p.m. The card will be televised nationally as "Tuesday Night Fights" on ESPN2.
Another Hawai'i boxer, Jesus Salud of Nanakuli, will compete in the 10-round main event against Fernando "Bobby Boy" Velardez of California.
Still, much of the hype surrounds the anticipated debut of Viloria. He is the last of the 12-member USA Olympic boxing team to debut as a professional.
"I think I just needed some time for myself to decide my future," said Viloria, who lost a controversial decision in the second round of the Olympics.
Six weeks ago, Viloria signed a four-year contract with DiBella Entertainment, a well-established company that should net him millions of dollars and numerous televised bouts during that span, according to match-maker Lou DiBella.
"Brian is already making more than what 99 percent of the fighters who are just turning professional make," said DiBella, although he did not reveal any figures. "He brings a lot of charisma in a small package. He brings a very marketable athlete who can play the ukulele and jump rope like I've never seen before. He's never going to get in trouble outside of the ring. He's well-raised and a gentleman.
"Oh yeah, and he can punch."
Which makes Viloria's debut "very important," according to DiBella. "Not only to win, but to look good doing it," he said.
To be sure, Viloria spent the last five weeks living large and training hard in the ritziest area of Los Angeles. Under the tutelage of trainer Freddie Roach, Viloria worked out in the same gymnasium with several established professional boxers, including former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.
"Brian is one of those guys you don't have to babysit," Roach said. "In fact, he's one of those guys you have to hold back a little bit and tell him to slow down."
After his daily workouts, Viloria spent his nights as a houseguest of his new manager, Gary Gittelsohn, who happens to own a mansion in Bel Air.
"We were right down the street from Shaq (O'Neal)," Viloria said. "It's very impressive."
Viloria is aware he needs to be just as impressive on Tuesday, and he is not lacking in confidence.
"He has experience, I give him that," Viloria said of Escobia. "But I think my amateur experience can make up for that. I should be able to take him out."
Little is known about Escobia, other than his 13-13-3 record, although Viloria said he has watched a few tapes of Escobia's recent bouts.
"I expect him to come forward and throw a lot of left hooks," Viloria said. "The plan that I'll use is try to stick a jab in his face and then move around. Use my speed and my power also."
At 112 pounds, Viloria will be fighting one weight class above his Olympic weight of 106. He thinks the added weight will add power to his renowned punches, saying "six pounds in boxing is a lot of weight, and I think it'll do me good."
As an Olympian, Viloria was graded as the strongest puncher, pound for pound, on the entire team. Roach was a believer on Viloria's first day of training.
"Everybody said he could punch, and I said, 'yeah, for a little guy,' " Roach said. "But my first day of catching (his punches) on the mitts, I was surprised. He punches good for anybody, any size."
Although Viloria would love to score a knockout victory in front of his home state fans, he is not making any bold predictions.
"I just want to win," he said.
