ISLE FILE
Viloria wins by knockout in Mexico
Advertiser Staff
Waipahu's Brian Viloria took on a Mexican boxer in Mexico yesterday, so he didn't want to leave anything to chance.
As a result, Viloria scored a third-round knockout victory over Fred Heberto Valdez yesterday on the undercard of the Latin Fury 4 event at Aguascalientes, Mexico.
A left hook by Viloria to Valdez's body ended it, 2 minutes, 10 seconds into the third round. The 113-pound bout was scheduled for 10 rounds.
"I caught him with a body shot and I could see him going down, trying to catch his breath," Viloria said. "It's a big confidence booster for me."
Viloria improved to 22-2 with his first knockout victory since September 2005. His last six bouts before yesterday ended in decisions.
"It felt good," said Viloria, 27. "There was a big crowd, like 70,000 people. They were all cheering for (Valdez) so I didn't want it coming down to a decision."
Valdez dropped to 10-18. He was named as Viloria's opponent earlier in the week.
"They switched opponents on me three times for this card," Viloria said. "But I've been training hard for the last month and a half, so it didn't really matter who they put in front of me."
By the end of the bout, the crowd gave Viloria a standing ovation.
Viloria improved to 3-0 in 2008, and said he will try to maintain an active schedule in hopes of receiving a world championship bout by the end of the year.
"I feel like I'm getting better and better with each fight," he said. "I really like this schedule. It keeps me active and I feel like it will get me ready for a world title by the end of this year."
TRACK AND FIELD
UH SIXTH IN WAC
Amber Kaufman won the high jump with a school-record 6-foot 1/2- inch leap as the University of Hawai'i women's track and field team finished sixth at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships yesterday in Boise, Idaho.
Kaufman, a starter on the nationally ranked volleyball team, won her first WAC gold medal for the Rainbow Wahine, who started the final day in second place. Teammate Emily Sheppard placed second with 5-11 1/4 and Annett Wichmann finished fifth with 5-6 1/2.
"For Amber, what an amazing effort to clear 1.84, she was just sitting over it," UH head coach Carmyn James said. "She'll be able to get to nationals with that mark. It was extra special for Emily, too, to have to go between triple jump and high jump all while being sick. It was a great way to end the meet for us."
Louisiana Tech won its fourth consecutive title with 173 points. Idaho (122) finished second, followed by Fresno State (121.5), Utah State (100), Nevada (91), Hawai'i (74.5), New Mexico State (64.5) and Boise State (64.5).
UH earned six points in the discus as Alana Faagai (150-11), Careena Onosai (149-0) and Brittani Daniels (148-5) placed sixth, seventh and eighth.
Also, Samantha Whitehall ran a personal-best 2:18.92 to place sixth in the 800.
LACROSSE
ALOHA AT ALOHA TODAY
The Aloha Youth Lacrosse Association concludes its season today with eight games at Aloha Stadium.
The event is free with the swap meet parking charge.
Today's schedule: HS Kapolei vs. HS Windward, 8:30 a.m. HS Honolulu A vs. HS Honolulu B, 9:30. HS Mililani vs. HS Kapolei, 10:30. Boys 4-6th Grade Division, 11:30. Coaches Select Game Boys HS, 12:30 p.m. Girls High School, 2. Girls Bantam & Boys Bantam, 3. Boys 7-8th Grade Division, 4.
