MANILA – WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria gained revenge over Mexico’s Omar Nino Romero Sunday, winning by a technical knockout to retain his title in a hard-fought bout.
The victory earned him presidential congratulations with his manager eyeing a unification bout with the WBA flyweight champ in the future.
“Congratulations to our ‘Hawaiian Punch’ Brian Viloria for winning his match,” President Benigno Aquino’s spokeswoman Abigail Valte said.
The fight was stopped in the ninth round of the World Boxing Organization fight in Manila after Filipino Viloria, 31, unleashed a salvo of unanswered punches against the 36-year-old Mexican, who was stuck on the ropes.
“I knew it was just a matter of time,” said Viloria, adding that a knockout had been inevitable.
The victory gives Viloria a record of 31 wins and three defeats.
It was also vindication for Viloria, who lost his World Boxing Council light flyweight title to Romero in 2006.
Later that same year they clashed again but the fight was declared a no contest after the Mexican failed a post-fight drug test.
Speaking after Sunday’s bout, Viloria said he had become stronger since the two previous encounters.
“He didn’t feel my power in the first two fights,” he said.
Viloria said Romero had a “weird in-and-out movement,” that took some getting used to.
“I just timed my punches and not let his awkward movement throw me off,” he added.
Romero, known as the “Giant Killer”, falls to 31 wins, five losses and two draws.
Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn said he would try to arrange a unification bout with World Boxing Association flyweight title holder Hernan “Tyson” Marquez of Mexico for Viloria’s next fight.
Another possible opponent is WBA light flyweight champion, Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua, he added. — AFP
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