Viloria returns to New York as a pro

Associated Press

NEW YORK — In a previous visit to New York, Waipahu's Brian Viloria was a small man with a big reputation and hopes of an Olympic gold medal.

He's back in town without that gold medal, looking to build a reputation as a pro, with hopes of becoming a world champion.

Tonight, Viloria and Olympic teammates Jermain Taylor and Clarence Vinson will box on an ESPN2 show in the Roseland Ballroom in midtown Manhattan. (The card starts at 4 p.m. Hawai'i time.)

Viloria was in New York in September 2000 to make appearances with other members of the Sydney Olympic team. He was a world champion and the favorite to win the Olympic light flyweight (106 pounds) title, but was outpointed in the second round by Brahim Aslouh of France, the eventual gold medalist.

"It was a big disappointment," Viloria said. "But you don't sulk about it."

Viloria, who will turn 21 tomorrow, became pro as a flyweight (112 pounds) in May, and goes into his six-round bout against Mike Thomas of Baltimore (4-2-1, 2 knockouts) with a 3-0 record, 2 KOs.

"It's real good," Viloria said of life as a pro. "I have a pro boxing style. I've had to get rid of some amateur habits."

As an amateur, Viloria boxed three three-minute rounds or four two-minute rounds. Pro rounds are three minutes.

"I can't throw as many punches in a round as I did as an amateur," he said. "I have to learn to pace myself, to pick my shots."