Waipahu’s Brian Viloria retained his IBF light flyweight world championship with a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Jesus Iribe tonight.
A crowd of around 3,000 at the Blaisdell Center Arena watched Viloria improve to 26-2.
It was his first defense of the IBF title in the 108-pound class. It was also the first world boxing championship bout staged in Hawai’i since 1976.
“We all fought our hearts out tonight,” Viloria said to the crowd after the bout. “I hope you guys enjoyed that.”
Viloria used an aggressive attack to defeat Iribe, although he was never able to knock down the rugged Mexican. Iribe, who is ranked No. 15 in the IBF, dropped to 15-6-5.
The judges scored the bout 118-110, 117-112 and 117-111.
Viloria set the tone early, landing several combinations to Iribe’s head and face in the first round.
In the second round, Viloria turned his attention to Iribe’s body.
Viloria maintained the pace through the middle rounds, landing crowd-pleasing flurries in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
Iribe used an effective jab in the later rounds, but could never put together combinations like Viloria.
Iribe was also able to endure Viloria’s flurries, and never appeared seriously hurt in any round.
Both fighters came out firing in the 12th and final round, prompting the crowd to chant, “Brian! Brian! Brian!”
Prior to the bout, Viloria was led to the ring by a line of hula dancers and supporters carrying both the Hawaiian and Philippines flags. His entry music was Hawaii Five-O.
A.J. Banal of the Philippines earned a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Jose Beranza in the semi-main event.
The flyweight bout went 10 rounds.
Banal opened a cut over Beranza’s right eye midway through the bout, but there were no knockdowns. Banal did get a point taken away for a low blow.
Banal, who is considered a rising star in the Philippines, improved to 20-1-1. Beranza dropped to 32-16-2.
In other undercard bouts:
? Alfonso Gomez of Mexico beat Raul Munoz of Kansas via knockout, 1:01 into the first round. The welterweight bout was scheduled for 10 rounds.
Gomez dropped Munoz with a combination early in the opening minute, then finished it moments later with a body shot.
Gomez, who is considered a world title contender, improved to 20-4-2 with the 10th knockout of his career. Munoz dropped to 20-13-1.
? Dennis Laurente of the Philippines earned a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Zaid Zavalete in a light welterweight bout.
There were no knockdowns in the 10-round bout, but Laurente dominated the action. He improved to 32-3-5. Zavalete dropped to 18-6-2.
? Isaac Arasato of Honolulu beat Donald Gonzalez Jr. of Hilo via TKO in the first round.
Arasato was awarded the win when Gonzalez could not continue due to an apparent arm injury. Arasato improved to 5-0; Gonzalez dropped to 1-1.
? Ku’ulei Kupihea of Mililani defeated Shalei Padilla of Kona by knockout in the fourth round of a female bout.
Kupihea improved to 4-1; Padilla dropped to 0-1.
Reach Dayton Morinaga at [email protected].
