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Monday, April 24, 2000

Viloria defeats
Mexico champ
in Tijuana

Hawaii's Olympic boxer
keeps on winning

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

For once in Brian Viloria's career, it was a fight he did not have to win.

But Waipahu's light flyweight Olympian couldn't pass up a chance to whip the lion in his own den.

So, amid the din of an emphatically nationalistic crowd, Viloria pounded out a clear 8-4 decision Saturday night over Mexican champion Liberio Romero in the finals of the Central American qualifier tournament in Tijuana, Mexico.

It was Viloria's fourth victory in six career fights against Romero, but the first time he has fought him in Mexico.

Both Viloria and Romero earned berths on their Olympic teams during the tournament.

"It was the best I've felt since the world championships last year," said the 19-year-old Viloria, who is the first Hawaii boxer to qualify for the Olympics since Choken Maekawa and Ray Perez went to Melbourne in 1956.

He arrived home to a crowded airport reception last night for a weeklong stay in Waipahu. Dead tired from winning three bouts last week and a flight across the Pacific, he was looking forward to sleeping late this morning.

"The crowd booed us and heckled us into the ring," said U.S. coach Tom Mustin, recalling the hostile setting in which Viloria had to meet Romero.

. "They had the mariachi music going so loud it hurt your ears. They played it while Brian was circling the ring at the beginning. It was like a world championship fight. It was the main event of the day."

But Viloria said he loved it.

"I was pumped from the star," he said. " I guess I just wanted to shine that night."

His rivalry with Romero dates back to their days in Junior Olympics competition. The last time the rivals met was in the quarterfinals of the North American qualifier in Tampa, Fla, when Viloria battled to a close 10-8 decision.

"The way Brian fought, he looked like a gold medalist because he followed instructions to the letter," said Mustin. "He stayed in the center of the ring, and didn't get caught on the ropes. It wasn't even as close as it was scored. The crowd would get Romero up and he'd come out strong but Brian would shut him right down with right-hand counters."

Two other American boxers also took Central American qualifier titles in their divisions.

Light heavyweight Olanda Aderson, who replaced world amateur champion Michael Simms, Jr., on the team, won in a medical walkover against Brazil's Laudelino Barrios, and Dante Craig decisioned Puerto Rico's Reuben Fuchu, 8-6, in the 147-pound division.

The U.S., which lost both Simms Jr. and lightweight Marshall Martinez this month, has nonetheless qualified fighters in all 12 divisions.

David Jackson, Martinez's replacement, was able to fill the berth without having to qualify because Martinez had qualified in Florida.

Viloria will fly to Connecticut next week for a dual meet with Mexico and possibly yet another meeting with Romero.