Viloria makes pro boxing debut today

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

At this point, even Brian Viloria is tired of the hype surrounding his professional boxing debut today at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Brian Viloria has done enough stretching, sparring and promoting. "All this hype and all this waiting . . . I just want to get in the ring and get it on," he says. Associated Press

Viloria weighed in at 111 1/2 pounds yesterday for his scheduled four-round flyweight (112 pounds and lighter) bout with Ben Jun Escobia of The Philippines. Escobia, who is 10 years older than the 20-year-old Viloria, weighed 107 1/2.

"It's right where I want to be," Viloria said. "It doesn't really matter to me what the other guy weighs, as long as he makes the weight. After that, I just have to fight my fight."

Then again, his fighting ability is the reason why the bout has been the center of media attention in Hawai'i during the last few days. Viloria, a Waipahu High graduate, was one of the most decorated amateur boxers in Hawai'i history, winning a world championship in 1999, and making the U.S. Olympic team last year.

Not that any of it impresses Escobia (13-13-3), who will be making his 30th pro fight.

"I know Brian is good, but I came here to fight, too," Escobia said through an interpreter. "Even though everybody is cheering for Brian to win, I'm trying to win, too."

Viloria has scouted Escobia on video, and saw his opponent in person for the first time at yesterday's official weigh-in. At 5 feet 3, Viloria appeared at least a couple of inches taller than Escobia.

"I can't underestimate him," Viloria said. "I'm prepared, I did my homework. He's a good boxer, so it'll be a good test."

While aware of Viloria's punching power in the amateur ranks, Escobia said he won't alter his strategy.

"I want to go toe-to-toe with him," Escobia said. "That's my style and that's his style, so it should be a good one."

•

Today's card Junior featherweights (127 [pounds), 10 rounds: Jesus Salud, 62-10 (37 KOs) vs. Fernando "Bobby Boy" Velardez, 17-4-1 (4 KOs) Flyweights (112 pounds), 4 rounds: Brian Viloria, debut vs. Ben Jun Escobia, 13-13-3 Junior bantamweights (115 pounds), 6 rounds: Jose Navarro, 3-0 (0 KO) vs. Carlos Zambrano, 3-4-1 (1 KO) IFBA Junior middleweight (154 pounds) women's world championship, 10 rounds: Ann Wolfe, 6-1 (4 KOs) vs. Vienna Williams, 5-0 (2 KOs)

Another Hawai'i boxer, Jesus Salud of Nanakuli, will be featured in the main event against Fernando "Bobby Boy" Velardez of San Bernardino, Calif.

Both fighters weighed in at just over 126 pounds for the 10-round junior featherweight bout.

Salud is 62-10, but 35-0 in Hawai'i. Velardez is 17-4-1.

"If a fighter tells you he doesn't have butterflies, he's either lying or he's crazy," Salud said. "I'm anxious, but once you get that initial hit, it goes away. That's why I want to get started already."

• Another Olympian: One of Viloria's Olympic teammates, Jose Navarro of Los Angeles, will also fight on today's card.

Navarro, who is 3-0 as a professional, will meet Carlos Zambrano in a 6-round junior bantamweight bout.

"When I found out I would get a chance to fight in Hawai'i with Brian, I was real excited," Navarro said. "He's getting a lot of attention, and he deserves it. He has power, he has speed, he has everything. I'm looking forward to both of us having good fights."

• One bout canceled: A third Hawai'i boxer, John Lopez of Hilo, was supposed to fight on the card, but that fight was canceled yesterday.

Lopez was scheduled to take on Anthony Simkins of Georgia in an 8-round junior welterweight bout. Simkins did not pass physical examinations with two different doctors yesterday.

"You train weeks for this and get it taken away at the last minute, it's tough," said Lopez. "I found out I was going to be a part of this three weeks ago, and I was training full force, five hours a day."

Lopez not only lost out on potential national exposure, but a payday as well.

"I could have made maybe ($1,000)," he said. "But not just that, I had to fly here from the Big Island and then I took off four days from work for this. I pretty much lose money all around."

• Women's title: In what might turn out to be the most exciting bout, Ann Wolfe of Texas fights Vienna Williams of Philadelphia for the IFBA junior middleweight women's world championship.