ASSOCIATED PRESS
Waipahu's Brian Viloria celebrated after defending his WBC youth title by knocking out Luis Doria yesterday in Pismo Beach, Calif.
The Viloria
of old is backThe boxer from Waipahu
makes short work of Doria
to remain undefeated
PISMO BEACH, Calif. >> Waipahu's Brian Viloria made his point very clear last night -- he is no longer Mr. Nice Guy.
Viloria defended his World Boxing Council youth flyweight title by knocking out Luis Doria 1 minute, 14 seconds into the first round on the beach at the Sea Venture Hotel and Resort.
Viloria wanted to show viewers of ESPN2's Tuesday Night Fights that he was the Brian Viloria of old. And he reminded fight fans of the man who knocked out six of his first eight professional opponents from the opening bell by reverting to old form and displaying a new attitude.
Viloria (13-0, 8 KOs) had opened every professional fight with a friendly touch of the gloves before this one, but he greeted Doria, who boasted to the television audience that he expected to knock the Olympian out in the first round, with a stiff left hook instead of a handshake moments after the opening bell sounded.
"I used to do that all the time, but I have been getting away from it," Viloria said. "The referee says to keep your guard up at all times, so he is free game. I think this should show everybody that I am not taking anything any more."
Doria was in trouble from the moment Viloria did his best impression of Aaron Pryor, as Viloria trapped the Columbian against the ropes until he floored him 45 seconds into the fight.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian Viloria had Luis Doria on the ropes before he knocked him out in the first round yesterday in Pismo Beach, Calif. Viloria didn't waste any time, dominating the fight from the start.
Doria recovered, but only survived long enough for Viloria to tag him with a straight right that propelled Doria into the ropes and onto the canvas. Referee Lou Moret then decided that Doria had had enough.
"He was hurt from the first punch," Viloria said. "I kinda wanted to work on the body and some other things, but he wasn't going to be around long enough."
Doria (17-9-1, 10 KOs) had only been stopped in the first round once before, and had hung with the likes of Baby Jake Matlala (12 rounds), Ratanapol Sor Vorapin (four rounds) and Bebis Mendoza (nine rounds), but had no chance against the new Viloria.
Viloria's attitude adjustment came in the gym, where he has been working with light flyweight champion Rosendo Alvarez, who is widely regarded as the best in the world in his weight class.
"Alvarez is a terrific world champion and a mean, mean guy," manager Gary Gittelsohn said. "That is what he is getting across to Brian, who is a naturally nice guy."
Alvarez tried to fire up Viloria by telling him that nobody can stay with his power, and it was time to use it. And Alvarez would know, as he has been feeling Viloria's power as a sparring partner every day for the three months leading up to the fight.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian Viloria knocked down Luis Doria yesterday in Pismo Beach, Calif. Viloria successfully defended his WBC youth flyweight title by scoring a first-round TKO.
"He has helped me a whole lot, bringing out the fire in me," Viloria said. "And I expect to keep it."
Viloria figures to return to Hawaii some time in the fall on his way to a world title fight. Gittelsohn has said that he expects Viloria to fight one of the title holders if he wins his next four fights.
"I am going to try to keep him very busy," Gittelsohn said. "Maybe something every 6-to-8 weeks. I think we are about eight months away from fighting for a world title. This is so dramatic; every time I try to slow him down, he speeds past me."
It was Viloria's second knockout win in California -- he dropped Kenny Berrios in four rounds in San Francisco in his second pro fight -- but he didn't forget Hawaii afterwards. Viloria celebrated the quick win by climbing up on two corners of the ring and dancing the hula that he first broke out when he beat Sandro Oviedo at the Blaisdell Center last year.
"Being home for my last fight (a TKO of Valentin Leon in April at the Sheraton Waikiki Ballroom) energized me," Viloria said. "Even being on the beach here reminded me of home, and that helped me."
