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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Viloria's Isle title fight set


By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Brian Viloria

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Hawai'i fight fans will get a rare treat later this month.

Boxing.

And not just boxing, world championship boxing. Featuring a local fighter.

For the first time in 33 years, Honolulu will host a world championship boxing match when Waipahu's Brian Viloria takes on Mexico's Jesus "Azul" Iribe on Aug. 29 at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

"Hopefully I can bring back the boxing scene and try to revive the sport of boxing there in Hawai'i," Viloria said.

Viloria won the IBF light flyweight (108 pounds) world championship in April with an 11th-round knockout of Mexico's Ulises Solis.

The Aug. 29 bout will be his first title defense.

It will also be his fourth fight in Hawai'i. His last bout in his home state came in April 2003.

"The last time I fought there was 2003, when I was still working up the rankings and trying to get as many fights as I can," said Viloria, who is 29 and trains out of Oxnard, Calif.

Ben Villaflor was the last Hawai'i boxer to fight for a world title in Honolulu. He had six WBA super featherweight world title fights in Hawai'i, the last one coming in April 1976.

Viloria has a professional record of 25-2 with 15 knockouts. Iribe is 15-5-5 with nine knockouts.

"From the tapes that I've seen (Iribe) is a really good boxer, quick hands," Viloria said.

Viloria's trainer Robert Garcia said they plan to arrive in Hawai'i a week before the fight date.

"We are going to be training in Hawai'i four to five days before the fight," he said.

Viloria's manager Gary Gittelsohn added that Viloria will make several public appearances during the week of the fight to promote the card.

"This is a card we hope will revitalize boxing in Hawai'i," Gittelsohn said.

The undercard will feature several Filipino boxers, including AJ "Bazooka" Banal. He will face Mexico's Vicotor Proa in a matchup of top bantamweight contenders.

The card will be televised in the Philippines.

Gittelsohn said a victory by Viloria could set up a future showdown with WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico.

Calderon (32-0-1) is considered the No. 1 light flyweight boxer in the world.

"Brian first has to get past Jesus Iribe, and I cannot stress enough that this is a real fight," Gittelsohn said.

Ticket sales for the Aug. 29 card will begin tomorrow. Tickets are priced at $35, $65 and $90 for upper level and risers, and $125, $275 and $325 for floor and ringside seats.

Tickets will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Thursday at the Blaisdell box office. Sales are also available online through http://www.ticketmaster.com or via charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.