By Star-Bulletin Staff
Viloria card on April 15
filled with local boxersWhen Brian Viloria steps into the ring at the Shereton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom on April 15, he will be capping off a card that includes 10 other Hawaii fighters.
Viloria (11-0, 6 KOs) will fight Valentin Leon (14-5, 6 KOs) of Mexico in his return to Hawaii. The WBO's No. 5-ranked flyweight last fought in Hawaii last May when he knocked out Sandro Oviedo in the first round.
The card begins at 7:30, and every fight will feature a local performer.
Eric Alexander (18-7, 13 KOs) of Kalihi will take on Calvin Odom (11-4, 8 KOs) in a six-round welterweight fight before the main event. Alexander last fought on Viloria's card last May, beating Jerry Balagbagan by decision.
There will be three heavyweight fights on the card.
Tali Kulihaapai (8-3, 7 KOs) of Honolulu, who is unbeaten in eight fights in Hawaii, will take on John Clark (4-2, 4 KOs) of Los Angeles in the six-round heavyweight fight. Local boys Sitafine Talosaga (3-0) of Honolulu takes on David Bihana (2-2) of Waimanalo in a four-round heavyweight fight.
Super lightweight Jerry Saribay (3-3, 2 KOs) of Kalihi brings John Lopez (6-6, 3 KOs) of Hilo back to the ring in an earlier six-round fight. Lopez hasn't fought since losing to Roberto Rios in Hilo in Oct. 2001 and broke Saribay into the fight business by knocking him out in the second round of his debut 2 1/2 years ago. Saribay shook it off to win his next four fights.
Four Hawaii fighters will make their professional debuts on the card, with lightweight Jay Saribay of Kalihi taking on Travis Tandel of Kaimuki in a lightweight bout and Rodney Joseph of Waianae running up against Mark Mariko of Kalihi in the first heavyweight clash. Both of the debuts are four rounds.
Tickets are $75 ringside, $50 reserved and $25 general admission at Ticketmaster locations.
Coogan tosses no-no as UH splits twinbill
GREENSBORO, N.C. >> Melissa Coogan pitched a five-inning no-hitter, and got support from Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week April Crowell in the form of a grand slam as Hawaii (19-14) split a softball doubleheader.Coogan struck out four in a 10-0 win against North Carolina Greensboro.
In the second game, UNCG scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to steal a 5-4 win from Coogan (15-8), who came on in relief of Shannon Tabion.
Crowell hit a solo home run in the second game.
Vulcans lose twice: The Hawaii-Hilo softball team was surprised by Cal State Dominguez Hills (22-8-1) yesterday, getting swept 3-0 and 5-1 in Carson, Calif.
The Vulcans (22-8) managed only five hits in both games, with Kayla Kahuli getting Hilo's only hit in the second game. Freshman pitcher Leo Sing Chow suffered the first loss of her collegiate career, giving up two earned runs in five innings. She had started her career with 10 straight wins.
Hilo has tough time at Aggie Invitational
The UH-Hilo golf team finished in 12th place in the Aggie Invitational at Davis, Calif., yesterday, shooting a 922 over two days.Kevin Shimomura, Colin Gilliam and Kellan Anderson led Hilo with 79s on the final day. Shimomura finished tied for 30th with a two-day total of 225.