Brian Viloria's busy work schedule is paying off in chances for gold. Viloria to fight for
NABF title FridayStar-Bulletin staff
Waipahu's Viloria (8-0, 6 KOs) will headline ESPN2's Friday Night Fights Aug. 30 when he takes on Gabriel Munoz of Mexicali, Mexico, for the North American Boxing Federation's flyweight title in New York.
"It is one of the bigger titles I can get," Viloria said. "It means a lot and can propel me toward the top 10 in the world already."
Viloria is the first on his Olympic team to get a title and did it by staying busy. He started his career six months after his teammates, but has already caught up to them as far as the number of fights. He figures to keep fighting a bout each month for a while as a way to break up training.
"It has been just me and my boxing," Viloria said. "I haven't been doing anything but training, but it's been cool because it is something I like to do."
Munoz (29-11-1, 18 KOs) has held four belts to Viloria's one, including the North American junior flyweight belt in 1997. He has been beltless since Jan. 1, 1999, when he lost the Mexican Light Flyweight championship.
"This is a real fighter Brian's fighting," said Gary Gittelsohn, Viloria's manager.
Viloria, king of cyberspace: ESPN is conducting a poll at espn.go.com/boxing/index.html asking which of the 2000 Sydney Olympians is developing into the best prospect.
Viloria was in fourth yesterday.
Jones to hold first agility clinic tomorrow
The first June Jones Sports Agility Clinic will be held tomorrow at the University of Hawaii football practice field. UH head football coach Jones will host the clinic, which is from 8 to 10:30 a.m. It is open to all ages and there is a $10 fee.Call 224-0911 for information.
Kahanamoku races set for this afternoon
In conjunction with Duke Kahanamoku's 112th birthday celebration and the issue of his commemorative stamp, the annual Duke's 1-Mile Ocean Swim is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today off the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier.Also, the inaugural Duke Waterman Challenge is scheduled this afternoon on Duke Kahanamoku Beach near the Hilton lagoon. Teams of six will compete in huki huki (tug of war), surfing and canoe paddling.
Metzger-Wong shocked in Chicago
Scott Davenport and Eli Fairfield beat Punahou's Stein Metzger and Kevin Wong 21-19, 21-19 yesterday in the second round of the Chicago Men's Open.The team of Mike Lambert and Lee LeGrande, also of Punahou, advanced to the third round.
Rams release UH alum Noa
Former University of Hawaii offensive lineman Kaulana Noa was released by the St. Louis Rams yesterday as the 2000 Super Bowl champions trimmed their roster to 71 players.Noa spent most of last season on the inactive list, although he was the No. 2 left guard prior to this year's Super Bowl loss to New England. He was a four-year starting tackle for Hawaii after playing for Honokaa High School on the Big Island.
The 6-foot-3, 307-pounder was selected in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Noa made the club that year, but spent most of 2000 on injured reserve after suffering a wrist injury in training camp.
Noa was first-team all-WAC his senior season and one of several prospects to make it at the next level since UH offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh took over in 1999.