Viloria's bout in Ohio canceled
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
Brian Viloria's next professional bout will have to wait another three weeks.
Advertiser library photo • Sept. 28, 2001
The Waipahu boxer's fight with Julio Cesar Oyuela was canceled yesterday in Cincinnati, after Oyuela failed to meet the required 113-pound weight limit. The scheduled six-rounder was supposed to be part of a made-for-ESPN card.
Brian Viloria's next fight is scheduled for March 15.
"We're terribly disappointed," said Viloria's manager, Gary Gittelsohn. "Brian was in tip-top condition, ready to go. It's just unfortunate that his opponent didn't take the fight seriously."
Oyuela was 117 pounds at the official weigh-in Saturday. Viloria was 112 1/2.
Oyuela was allowed to weigh-in again yesterday in an attempt to salvage the bout, but he actually gained weight to 121 pounds.
"We were willing to take him at 114," Gittelsohn said. "But once he showed that he wasn't even trying to lose the weight, we had to make the prudent business decision. It was ridiculous."
According to Gittelsohn, Viloria will still receive his share of the purse for the fight, although he did not reveal that figure.
"It's the easiest money he ever made, sure," Gittelsohn said. "But he took a step back in his development by not fighting today. That's why we're so upset over this."
Viloria, a 2000 Olympic boxer, is 5-0 as a professional. His last bout was Jan. 5.
Viloria's next fight is another scheduled six-rounder, March 15 against Alberto Rossel of Peru. Rossel is 9-3 with four knockouts.
That bout will take place in New York, and is scheduled to be televised on ESPN2.
"We'll just have to get back to training for a new opponent," Gittelsohn said. "We send our apologies to the people of Hawai'i who were expecting to watch Brian fight. But given the circumstances, we just couldn't risk this one."
