Injury forces Viloria to cancel July 5 fight

Advertiser Staff

Brian Viloria's fast pace through boxing's flyweight division slowed down yesterday.

Viloria was diagnosed with a bruised right wrist, forcing the cancellation of a July 5 bout in Wisconsin.

"First, we want everybody in Hawai'i to know that Brian is fine," said his manager, Gary Gittelsohn. "It's just a bruised wrist — there was no significant damage — but the doctor decided it would be better to rest it."

Viloria was scheduled to fight Hugo Alberto Alvarez of Mexico at Keshena, Wis. That bout would have come just 17 days after Viloria defeated Francisco Soto for the World Boxing Council's Youth World flyweight championship on June 18 at Del Mar, Calif.

Gittelsohn said Viloria injured his wrist against Soto, probably "from blocking punches."

Viloria's wrist was placed in a removable brace yesterday, but he was given clearance to continue training.

"He can do everything except sparring," Gittelsohn said.

Gittelsohn said he will try to schedule a bout for Viloria on either July 25 or 26, possibly on ESPN. He said Alvarez will probably not be the opponent.

"If it's going to be on ESPN, we have to find a more formidable opponent," Gittelsohn said.

Viloria, 21, is 8-0 with six knockouts. Alvarez is 2-0, and was not qualified to fight for Viloria's WBC youth title.