Friday, August 27, 1999
Associated Press
Brian Viloria of Waipahu celebrates his decision
over Cuba's Maikro Romero for the world title.
Viloria wins
gold in World
Amateur Boxing
The Waipahu fighter defeats
Associated Press
a Cuban boxer for the
light-flyweight titleHOUSTON -- Waipahu's Brian Viloria charged through his four-round bout and then did a hula dance on the winner's stand after defeating Cuba's Maikro Romero for the gold medal in the light-flyweight division of the World Amateur Boxing Championships last night.
Romero, the 1996 Olympic flyweight champion, defeated Viloria in the 1998 Goodwill Games but was no match for the energetic Viloria, who came out quicker to the punch and never allowed the Cuban to rally.
Viloria led 1-0 after one round and increased his lead in each round for a 9-2 victory.
"I knew I wasn't a seasoned boxer then (Goodwill Games)," Viloria said. "The past year I've been in so many international competitions that it has given me more confidence and experience.
"He beat me, 11-3, in the Goodwill Games. Since then, I've looked at a lot of tape of him. I knew he would be the one to beat."
Viloria wasted little time getting to his specialty of inside punching. He was quicker with his punches from the start. Romero tried to pick up the pace in the second round, but Viloria stayed with the more experienced Cuban.
Sensing the urgency in the final round, Romero went right at Viloria but almost punched himself out as Viloria covered up and cruised the rest of the match.
The big news yesterday was made by the Cuban team, which withdrew from the tournament, claiming its fighters had been treated unfairly by officials.
The Cubans were angered last night when Timour Gaidalov of Russia outpointed Cuban welterweight Juan Hernandez, 5-3, in the gold-medal fight.
The Cubans protested the fight, claiming the Russian illegally put tape on his hand wraps. Gaidalov's hand wraps were ruled legal, and the Cubans protested on general grounds.
Before the scheduled start of fight between Felix Savon and American Michael Bennett, Cuban coaches and Savon circled the ring in protest, waving a Cuban flag. When Savon refused to report, Bennett was awarded the gold medal.
Moments later, Cuban boxing official Raul Villanueva angrily withdrew the Cuban team from the tournament.
Hours after the Cubans withdrew and Savon lost his chance at a gold medal, officials of the International Amateur Boxing Association reversed the disputed decision and awarded Hernandez the gold.
"Nothing AIBA does can clean the dirt that has been thrown on this tournament by the referees and judges," Villanueva said.
The dramatic move angered fans and stunned Bennett.
"I had no idea that would happen," Bennett said.
"I was disappointed. I wanted to do battle with him. It's nice to have that on your resume that you have fought the great Felix Savon."
