Due to illness, Fernando Montiel has been forced to withdraw from Thursday's clash with Angel Priolo.  2000 U.S. Olympian Brian Viloria has stepped into a dangerous main event on short notice.  The undefeated Viloria will look to bring his “Hawaiian Punch” to Los Angeles against Priolo in the twelve-round main event of HBO Latino’s Boxeo De Oro.   Although Viloria is much better known to boxing fans, it is Priolo who is rated higher in the Boxingtalk ratings. Priolo is #11 while Viloria is #23.  Priolo is 30-1 with his only loss more than six years ago when he met future world champion Irene Pacheco in a battle of Colombian prospects.  In the televised co-feature, super middleweight Librado Andrade (Boxingtalk #24 at 168) will make his third appearance at the legendary Grand Olympic Auditorium when he tackles hard-nosed veteran Thomas Reid in a ten-round bout.

Doors open at 6pm, and the first bell rings at 6:30pm.  The HBO Latino broadcast begins at 7pm PT.

Honolulu native Brian Viloria (15-0, 9 KOs) is one of the most highly regarded members of the Class of 2000, and he eagerly accepted the bout with Priolo when Fernando Montiel came down with the flu last weekend.  Unbeaten and possessing dynamite in both fists, “The Hawaiian Punch” is known for his ring generalship and willingness to scrap.  Viloria is coming off an impressive 11th round knockout of Gilberto Keb-Baas in June, and has his sights on a world title in 2005.

Angel Priolo (30-1, 20 KOs) has some championship aspirations of his own, having gone on a six-year, 17 fight winning streak. A well-decorated veteran with the Colombian flyweight and a regional bantamweight title to his credit, the hard-punching Priolo would like be the first to put a loss on Viloria’s spotless record.

Tickets, priced at $100, $75, $35, and $20, can be purchased at all Southern California Ticketmaster locations, or at the Grand Olympic on the day of the fight.

WEIGH-IN INFORMATION

The weigh-in for the “Boxeo De Oro” show on December 16 will be held on Wednesday, December 15 in the San Francisco Room at the Holiday Inn City Center in downtown Los Angeles.  Doors open at 1pm, and the fighters will weigh-in at 2pm.