Viloria may fight here again this year

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

Brian Viloria is 7-0 as a pro after a first-round KO of Sandro Oviedo Friday night. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Promoter Tom Moffatt, who had said he needed a crowd of about 3,000 to break even, announced an attendance of 3,180 for Viloria's stunning knockout of Sandro Oviedo 38 seconds into the first round of their scheduled eight rounder late Friday night.

That and the $79,000 gate was enough, Moffatt said, to not only cement plans to bring the 7-0 (5 KOs) Waipahu flyweight back in the fall but to also consider holding a non-Viloria club card in the interim.

"It was a good crowd considering how boxing has drawn here (in the past)," Moffatt said.

So depressed has the professional boxing industry been that Friday's show was the first in two years at Blaisdell Center. During the previous seven years, the average card at Blaisdell drew just 786.

"Lou (DiBella of DiBella Entertainment, the producer and matchmaker) and Gary (Gittelsohn, Viloria's manager) have been talking about something for Brian this fall," Moffatt said.

"I'd also like to do something even without Brian, just with the local fighters we have," Moffatt said. "They displayed a lot of action."

Teddy Limoz Jr., who won a four-round exhibition bout over Jerry Saribay, and Eric Alexander, who decisioned Jerry Balagbagan over six rounds, are all welterweights and were crowd pleasers Friday.

Limoz (8-1) is scheduled to fight for the Asia-Pacific title June 29 in Manila, according to his trainer, Pete Jhun.

Gittelsohn said Viloria, who is expected to be ranked No. 9 in the next North American Boxing Federation rankings, is tentatively scheduled to met as yet unnamed opponent on a June 18 card at Del Mar, Calif.

Gittelsohn said there is a chance the bout could be a 10-rounder for a World Boxing Council youth title.

"One thing I do know right now is that Brian can't wait to come back home and fight again," Gittelsohn said.