Posted at 7:50 p.m., Friday, September 28, 2001

Viloria dominates in win over Berrios at USF

By Jill R. Dorson
Special to the Advertiser

Brian Viloria, right, takes a swing at Kenny Berrios during today's fight at the University of San Francisco. George Nikitin - Special to The Advertiser

SAN FRANCISCO — Brian Viloria, who broke his right hand in his professional boxing debut just four months ago, today beat Kenny Berrios (6-12-1) at War Memorial Gymnasium on the University of San Francisco campus.

Viloria won by technical knockout in the fourth round of a scheduled four-round, 112-pound flyweight match.

Viloria, who dominated the match, finished off Berrios with a flurry of punches that included a left-hook and right-hand combination.

"This fight was a big motivation for me," Viloria said. "To win away from my hometown, to show people who Brian Viloria is. It just showed my hard work."

Waipahu's Viloria had only a month of full training before today's fight, which was televised on ESPN2. After surgery to repair his hand in May, Viloria continued to stay in shape and soon after his cast and the pins were removed, he got back to work in the ring.

After entering the ring to the strains of the Hawaii 5-0 theme song and waving two American flags, Viloria took control early. He wore Berrios down with body shots and plenty of rights to the head.

At the end of the first round, Berrios' legs were buckling. In the second round, Berrios was often flailing to no avail at Viloria's midsection. In the third round, Berrios (6-12-1) was hunched over and repeatedly took shots in the head from Viloria (2-0).