Viloria wins WBC title
Lenny Ignelzi • The Associated Press
Waipahu's Brian Viloria lands a solid shot against Francisco Soto during a nationally televised World Boxing Council Youth flyweight championship bout in Del Mar, Calif. Viloria, 21, won the title open to fighters 23 and younger.
Associated Press
DEL MAR, Calif. — Waipahu's Brian Viloria stopped Francisco Soto with a left hook in the fifth round yesterday to win the World Boxing Council Youth World flyweight title.
Lenny Ignelzi • The Associated Press
Youth titles are open to fighters ages 23 and younger.
“I knew I was ready for this and the power was there,” said a happy Brian Viloria.
Viloria, 21, a former world amateur champion and 2000 Olympian, dominated the bout with powerful hooks to the head and body. Soto hit the canvas in the second and third rounds before succumbing in the fifth.
"I knew I was ready for this and the power was there," Viloria said. "I just had to wait and land that really good punch. I tried to stay in there with him and he was in there with me. Mexican guys are always tough."
It was the sixth knockout for Viloria (8-0). Soto's record is 13-6.
The referee stopped the scheduled 10-round bout at 1:18 in the fifth, seconds after Soto staggered to feet.
"I didn't want to rush myself and get careless," Viloria said. "The fight didn't seem like it lasted five rounds. Soto was really stubborn."
It was just the second time Viloria has gone more than four rounds. In his previous fight last month in Hawai'i, Viloria knocked out Sandro Oviedo in 38 seconds.
Viloria said he should be ready for a major title shot in about a year.
"I'm not in a rush," he said. "I'm just taking things one fight at a time. I'm preparing myself for each fight. Whatever my management tells me, or when they think I'm ready. I'll be ready."
