Viloria sidelined with broken right hand

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

Brian Viloria's next fight will be pushed back at least two months while he recovers from surgery to repair a fracture in his right hand.

Brian Viloria, 20, apparently broke his right hand in his professional debut, a win over Ben Jun Escobia on May 15. Advertiser library photo • May 11, 2001

Viloria, who was to have fought June 19 in Del Mar, Calif., "is doing fine," Gittelsohn said. "He's disappointed he won't be able to get right back and fight on June 19th."

That fight was to have been broadcast on ESPN2.

It was in the third round of his nationally televised May 15 professional debut at the Hawai'i Convention Center that the 20-year-old Viloria apparently broke his hand while winning a unanimous four-round decision over Ben Jun Escobia.

"It is something of an occupational hazard for somebody who punches as hard as Brian does," Gittelsohn said. "You see this with a lot of the big punchers, guys like (Mike) Tyson, Mark Breland. ... But the doctor says he will be able to come back as good as new."

Viloria continued to ice the hand in the days after the fight while he vacationed here. When Viloria returned to Los Angeles on Wednesday to train, Gittelsohn suggested that the former world amateur flyweight champion see a hand specialist.

According to Gittelsohn, Dr. David Kulber said that X-rays indicated a fracture between the pinky finger and the wrist, and surgery was performed to insert pins to help the injury heal.

Gittelsohn said Viloria will have his hand in a wrap for three weeks and then have a fiberglass cast for another three weeks. Once the fiberglass cast is on, Viloria can resume aerobic conditioning but will have to wait until sometime in July to begin punching.