BRIAN VILORIA CAPTURES WBC BELT WITH 1ST ROUND KO OF ERIC ORTIZ

 

By Tom Dickey, ringside




 

 



    What some people thought would be the fight of the night turned out to be the shortest fight of the night as Brian Viloria knocked out Eric Ortiz at the end of the first round to capture the WBC light flyweight title.  Unfortunately, the bout was not shown on HBO, but was still a highly anticipated bout on the "Double Trouble" card among boxing fans and the crowd at the Staples Center. Viloria becomes yet another 2000 U. S. Olympian to win a world title in his first try.

    The opening round was actually a very close round until Viloria turned it around near the end of the round. Ortiz was able to do some good body work while in close, and Viloria was able to do his better work at a distance. However, late in the round Viloria rattled Ortiz with a hard right cross. Ortiz wobbled onto the ropes with shaky legs, and the "Hawaiian Punch" jumped on him. Right at the end of the round Viloria landed another crisp right on the kisser, which dropped Ortiz hard. Ortiz beat the count, but looked very dazed; as he reached his feet he immediately stumbled back down causing referee Raul Caiz Jr. to halt the fight. Just like that, Brian Viloria became the new WBC light flyweight champion. Viloria of Waipahu, Hawaii improves to 18-0, while Ortiz of Mexico City falls to 24-5-1.

    As soon as the fight was halted Viloria fell to his knees in elation pounding the mat with his hands. After the time was announced, Viloria took the microphone and once again dedicated the fight to Ruben Contreras who was ringside. Viloria said that it brought tears to his eyes that Contreras was present.

    In the other off-TV bouts on the "Double Trouble" card, former 2004 U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan dominated Gerardo Prieto scoring a shutout unanimous decision in a junior middleweight bout. Martirosyan wobbled Prieto once in the third round with an overhand right, but could never drop the tough Prieto. Nonetheless, Martirosyan picked Prieto apart throughout the fight, including the final round in which Prieto looked hurt. Martirosyan of Glendale, California improves to 4-0, while Prieto of Mexico City falls to 4-3-1.

    Philippine bantamweight sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista knocked out Felix Flores of Columbia at 1:11 of the third round. The highly touted Bautista improves to 15-0 with 12 KOs in his United States debut, while Flores falls to 13-5-1.

    In a four round super lightweight slugfest, Hector Leyva of Los Angeles TKO’d David Rodela of Oxnard, California at 2:28 of the final round. The bout was a back and forth non-stop war until finally Rodela gave way. Leyva improves to 2-0, while Rodela falls to 2-1-1.

    This wrapped up an exciting and shocking night of boxing from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The card was presented by Top Rank.

    Questions? Comments can be emailed to Tom Dickey

9-10-2005

           
 



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