honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 11, 2003

Waipahu's Viloria retains NABF title

Associated Press

Brian Viloria, from Waipahu, left, lands a left to Alejandro Moreno, from Juarez, Mexico, in their North American Boxing Federation flyweight title fight.

Associated Press

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Hawaiian Punch was without some of his potency last night.

Brian Viloria, an undefeated 2002 Olympic flyweight from Waipahu, won his bout against Alejandro Moreno of Mexico, but said he injured his right hand in the third round of the NABF title fight.

Viloria still had enough punching power to remain undefeated at 11-0 with a unanimous, if unspectacular, 12-round decision at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

"The hand hurt a little, but when you're in the ring and you get that adrenaline rush, you really don't notice it that much," Viloria said. "Moreno was very tough. I couldn't put him away. He had a hard head. I think I broke my hand on top of it."

During the bout, Moreno was mostly content to lay back and counterpunch.

Judge Glen Feldman gave Viloria every round in a 120-108 decision. Robert Paolino scored it 119-109, and George Degrabiel gave Viloria a 118-110 win.