Posted at 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2001

Viloria wins first professional fight

Advertiser Staff

Brian Viloria, the Olympic boxer from Waipahu, won his first professional fight today by unanimous decision at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Viloria outscored the Philippines' Ben Jun Escobia 40-33, 40-33, 40-33 in a four-round bout. Escobia's record now falls to 13-14-3.

Viloria knocked down Escobia in the first round with a left hook and then again in the opening seconds of the third round.

Viloria, 20, weighed in at 111 1/2 pounds yesterday for the flyweight bout to 30-year-old Escobia's 107 1/2 pounds.

Viloria, a Waipahu High School graduate, was one of the most decorated amateur boxers in Hawai'i's history, winning a world championship in 1999, and making the U.S. Olympic team last year.

He was the first boxer from Hawai'i to make the Olympic team in more than 40 years.