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Thursday, March 30, 2000
Viloria a
step closer
The Hawaii boxer can secure
By Pat Bigold
a trip to the 2000 Olympics in
Sydney with another victory today
Star-BulletinOn the eve of his chance to clinch a berth on the U.S. Olympic boxing team, Waipahu's Brian Viloria criticized the qualifying system which favors Cuba and has cost his own country.
"Many of us think it's a black eye to the U.S.," said Viloria, who rallied to defeat longtime nemesis, Liberio Romero of Mexico, yesterday with an exciting 10-8 decision in the 106-pound quarterfinals of the 2000 America's Olympic Qualifier at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Fla.
While Cuba is exempt from the qualifying tournament because of its No. 1 ranking, other countries in the Americas must put the winners of their Olympic trials through the additional tests.
Yesterday, two of the 12 American boxers, light heavyweight and current world champ Michael Simms Jr., and welterweight Dante Craig, lost their quarterfinal bouts.
That means they must continue to fight to qualify in one of two other tournaments: the Central American qualifier in Mexico City (April 17-22) and the South American qualifier in Argentina (May 23-28). A second place finish is necessary in one tournament to insure their places on the U.S. Olympic team.
Viloria was to face Puerto Rico's Ivan Calderon today. A victory over Calderon will ensure his ticket to Sydney.
The quarterfinal battle with Romero was a surprisingly strong early matchup. It turned out to be the toughest fight the 5-foot-4 Viloria, the reigning world amateur champion, has had in a long while.
The score was tied 8-8 with 40 seconds left in the fourth and last round before Viloria connected with consecutive left hooks.
It was the 19th straight win for Viloria.
Romero pushed Viloria against the ropes in the first round and took a 3-2 lead. Viloria came back in the second to box the Mexican in the center of the ring, scoring consistently and taking a 5-4 lead. He maintained the slight point advantage until Romero tied the contest in the fourth round.
Viloria said he has been trying to convince his U.S. team head coach, Tom Mustin, to arrange for the team to train in Hawaii en route to Sydney.
"I found out the Canadian team is going to train in Hawaii for two or three weeks," said Viloria. "We're planning to go to San Diego, but I said why not spend a week or two in Hawaii?"
Sydney 2000 Olympics
