LOS ANGELES — Brian Viloria of Waipahu dropped to his hands and knees inside Staples Center, then leaned over and kissed the canvas floor.

Nearly four months after experiencing the darkest moment in his professional boxing career, Viloria returned to the same ring and achieved his greatest accomplishment.

Viloria recorded a devastating first-round knockout yesterday against Eric Ortiz of Mexico City to win the World Boxing Council light flyweight title.

After crumbling to the floor in delight, Viloria was hoisted onto the shoulders of a trainer, thumped his chest and threw jabs at the largely Hispanic crowd. He then saluted his heritage by waiving the Philippine flag.

Shortly after, he took the microphone and recognized Ruben Contreras, the man who nearly died of a brain injury after quitting against Viloria in a tune-up bout at Staples Center in May. Contreras, who sat at ringside at Viloria's invitation, responded by standing and holding his thumb in the air.

It was a simple gesture but one that reached the heart of Viloria, who had spent many sleepless nights lying in bed, questioning whether he wanted to continue his boxing career.

"To see Ruben Contreras right there by ringside," Viloria said, "That means more to me than any championship."

Viloria, 24, had not fought since defeating the 32-year-old Contreras.

He had hoped to shake off the memory and get back in the ring July 30 against Ortiz in Las Vegas, but the bout was scratched when one of the headline fighters withdrew because of an injury.

"I had to prepare myself mentally and physically for this fight," Viloria. "A lot of people were doubting me, that I could cope with it mentally, but I had to show them."

Fighting at 108 pounds for the first time in his career — four pounds less than his previous 17 fights — Viloria appeared to have the edge on Ortiz from the start.

Viloria (18-0, 12 KOs) landed two hard rights to the side of Ortiz's head in the opening minute of the scheduled 12-round fight. A left jab sent Ortiz (24-5-1, 16 KOs) onto his heels about a minute later. Just after the 10-second warning, Ortiz threw a weak left and tried to follow with a right. But Viloria countered by slamming his right hand against Ortiz's chin, causing him to immediately drop to the canvas.

Ortiz struggled to his feet by the count of eight, but then stumbled backward and fell to the floor as referee Raul Caiz, Jr. stopped the fight with one second remaining in the round. With the win, Viloria becomes the third member of the 2000 Olympic boxing team to win a world title.

"I was expecting a long 12 rounds for this fight," Viloria said. "That right hand just landed right on the money."

Ortiz, making his first title defense and fighting for the first time outside Mexico, said through an interpreter that he was surprised by Viloria's hand speed.

"His right hand is real fast," Ortiz said. "He just surprised me. That's boxing, he beat me with one punch."

Viloria said the punch was a culmination of the hard work and sacrifice instituted by his camp.

"This is the best feeling in the world, for any boxer," he said. "I've spent days and days staying away from a lot of foods to become world champion, (doing) a lot of road work and running away from dogs that chase you."

Bob Arum, Viloria's promoter, said that Viloria would likely face the winner of an Oct. 8 bout in Las Vegas between interim WBC flyweight champion Jorge Arce of Mexico and Hussein Hussein of Australia. Arum also mentioned an innovative two-out-of-three series against Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico, a world champion in the 105-pound straw weight division.

"A lot of people said you can't do much with a 108-pound fighter," Arum said. "Well, we changed that with Michael Carbajal and I think Brian will be an even bigger attraction."

Moments after the bout, Viloria presented Contreras with a check worth "several thousand dollars," according to manager Gary Gittelsohn.

"The boxing world saw the two sides of Brian Viloria today," Gittelsohn said. "There was Brian the boxer, who is now a world champion. And there was Brian the human being, who showed just how much he cares about people."

And now Viloria is looking forward to getting back to Hawai'i and enjoying a regular diet.

"I'm coming home," Viloria said. "I want to eat some Hawaiian barbecue and Hawaiian chicken and all the sushi in the world."