CHAMP offers no excuses: Mexican dethrones Viloria
August 12, 2006 | 12:00am
LAS VEGAS In a startling upset, highly-favored Brian Viloria fought listlessly in losing the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight title to unheralded Mexican challenger Omar Niño Romero via a unanimous 12-round decision at the Orleans Arena here Thursday night (yesterday morning, Manila).
Viloria was only a shadow of the fighter who knocked out Eric Ortiz in a single round to wrest the WBC crown in Los Angeles last year. He was tentative, far from aggressive and allowed Romero nicknamed El Maestrito (the little teacher or master) to dictate the tempo most of the way.
Vilorias manager Gary Gittelsohn said he never expected the Fil-Am from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and Waipahu, Hawaii, to lose and was baffled by his anemic performance.
"Ive watched Brian in all his fights since he turned pro and hes never fought like that," said Gittelsohn. "Im very surprised. My priority now is to make sure hes physically fine. Then, well sit down and assess the future. Im sure hell want to reestablish himself and figure out what went wrong."
Gittelsohn said Romero is contractually bound to give Viloria a rematch after his first title defense. But hes not thinking of the clause at the moment. Whats important, said Gittelsohn, is for Viloria to decide what to do the rest of his life.
Vilorias father Ben said his sons future is up in the air. "Maybe, he should stop fighting for now and go back to school since he has about two more years left before earning his degree," said the elder Viloria. "I think hes overwhelmed by all the attention hes gotten since becoming the champion. This loss will put his feet back on the ground."
Viloria, 25, admitted he didnt do enough to retain the title.
"Im in shock," he said. "I just didnt fight my fight. My (right) hand was fine. The injury (hairline fracture of the fourth metacarpal) has healed completely. I have no excuses. I give Omar credit for coming into the fight ready to win."
Viloria said he felt the sense of urgency in the last two rounds when trainer Freddie Roach told him the title was slipping away and his only hope was to put Romero on the canvas.
Gittelsohn said although Viloria couldnt use his injured right hand for four months (it was in a cast for four weeks), he trained hard for eight weeks to prepare for Romero.
"His training was excellent," said Gittelsohn. "I dont think he was burned out. In the gym, he was seriously hurting bigger guys. So I dont really know why he fought that way."
Roach said Viloria just wouldnt break out of his funk.
"I thought Brian did a good job in the first round and he hurt Romero a few times," said Roach. "Romero came in scared of Brians power. But Brian gave him confidence to come back. Brian was outhustled. Romero worked harder, threw a lot more punches. Romero was a perfect opponent for Brian but Brian just wasnt himself."
Ricardo Jimenez, a former Mexican sportswriter who works for Top Rank Promotions as a publicist, said Viloria had no antidote for Romeros counterpunching style. "Actually, both are counterpunchers and thats why there were stretches where they just waited for each other to initiate," said Jimenez. "Romero was smart not to engage Viloria in a slugfest. Viloria didnt know how to fight a counterpuncher and he wasnt aggressive in taking the fight to Romero."
Romero took the initiative from the start, throwing a wide variety of punches. Viloria replied with a few telling blows but Romeros workrate was far too high. Viloria staged a mild rally in the middle rounds. Romero, however, came back to end the fight with a flourish, using a dizzying left jab to ignite his attack.
Viloria stormed out of his corner in the 12th round, gunning for a knockout. Romero refused to oblige, coasted and ended the fight looking fresher. Viloria was a picture of defeat at the final bell, the right side of his face swollen grotesquely from Romeros overhands.
Neither fighter was in danger of going down and referee Kenny Bayless, who worked the second Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight last January, had no difficulty in the ring. There were sporadic low blows and some wayward headbutts but on the whole, the fight was clean.
Judge Mark Green scored it 117-112 (Viloria took three rounds with one even, the rest for Romero). Judge Adalaide Byrd saw it 118-110, 8-2 in rounds for Romero and judge Chuck Giampa, 117-111 or 9-3 in rounds for the Mexican.
"Everyones entitled to a bad night sometime," said Viloria. This was my bad night. Romero fought well, like (Jose Antonio) Aguirre (whom Viloria decisioned in his first defense) and was determined to win. I wasnt distracted by talk of a Koki Kameda fight. I just didnt do what was expected of me."
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis (Chavit) Singson, who was in the ring when Viloria was introduced by ring announcer Michael Buffer before the fight, put his arm around the dethroned champions shoulder after the fight and consoled him, saying, Thats how life is."
Vilorias record dropped to 19-1, with 12 KOs, while Romero improved his mark to 24-2-1, with 10 KOs.
It wasnt a total eclipse for the Philippines here. In the undercard, flyweight contender Diosdado (Lionheart) Gabi of Davao City blasted veteran Mauricio Pastrana into submission at 1:36 of the first round. Pastrana, a former three-time world champion, went down thrice before referee Richard Steele called it a night.
Viloria was only a shadow of the fighter who knocked out Eric Ortiz in a single round to wrest the WBC crown in Los Angeles last year. He was tentative, far from aggressive and allowed Romero nicknamed El Maestrito (the little teacher or master) to dictate the tempo most of the way.
Vilorias manager Gary Gittelsohn said he never expected the Fil-Am from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and Waipahu, Hawaii, to lose and was baffled by his anemic performance.
"Ive watched Brian in all his fights since he turned pro and hes never fought like that," said Gittelsohn. "Im very surprised. My priority now is to make sure hes physically fine. Then, well sit down and assess the future. Im sure hell want to reestablish himself and figure out what went wrong."
Gittelsohn said Romero is contractually bound to give Viloria a rematch after his first title defense. But hes not thinking of the clause at the moment. Whats important, said Gittelsohn, is for Viloria to decide what to do the rest of his life.
Vilorias father Ben said his sons future is up in the air. "Maybe, he should stop fighting for now and go back to school since he has about two more years left before earning his degree," said the elder Viloria. "I think hes overwhelmed by all the attention hes gotten since becoming the champion. This loss will put his feet back on the ground."
Viloria, 25, admitted he didnt do enough to retain the title.
"Im in shock," he said. "I just didnt fight my fight. My (right) hand was fine. The injury (hairline fracture of the fourth metacarpal) has healed completely. I have no excuses. I give Omar credit for coming into the fight ready to win."
Viloria said he felt the sense of urgency in the last two rounds when trainer Freddie Roach told him the title was slipping away and his only hope was to put Romero on the canvas.
Gittelsohn said although Viloria couldnt use his injured right hand for four months (it was in a cast for four weeks), he trained hard for eight weeks to prepare for Romero.
"His training was excellent," said Gittelsohn. "I dont think he was burned out. In the gym, he was seriously hurting bigger guys. So I dont really know why he fought that way."
Roach said Viloria just wouldnt break out of his funk.
"I thought Brian did a good job in the first round and he hurt Romero a few times," said Roach. "Romero came in scared of Brians power. But Brian gave him confidence to come back. Brian was outhustled. Romero worked harder, threw a lot more punches. Romero was a perfect opponent for Brian but Brian just wasnt himself."
Ricardo Jimenez, a former Mexican sportswriter who works for Top Rank Promotions as a publicist, said Viloria had no antidote for Romeros counterpunching style. "Actually, both are counterpunchers and thats why there were stretches where they just waited for each other to initiate," said Jimenez. "Romero was smart not to engage Viloria in a slugfest. Viloria didnt know how to fight a counterpuncher and he wasnt aggressive in taking the fight to Romero."
Romero took the initiative from the start, throwing a wide variety of punches. Viloria replied with a few telling blows but Romeros workrate was far too high. Viloria staged a mild rally in the middle rounds. Romero, however, came back to end the fight with a flourish, using a dizzying left jab to ignite his attack.
Viloria stormed out of his corner in the 12th round, gunning for a knockout. Romero refused to oblige, coasted and ended the fight looking fresher. Viloria was a picture of defeat at the final bell, the right side of his face swollen grotesquely from Romeros overhands.
Neither fighter was in danger of going down and referee Kenny Bayless, who worked the second Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales fight last January, had no difficulty in the ring. There were sporadic low blows and some wayward headbutts but on the whole, the fight was clean.
Judge Mark Green scored it 117-112 (Viloria took three rounds with one even, the rest for Romero). Judge Adalaide Byrd saw it 118-110, 8-2 in rounds for Romero and judge Chuck Giampa, 117-111 or 9-3 in rounds for the Mexican.
"Everyones entitled to a bad night sometime," said Viloria. This was my bad night. Romero fought well, like (Jose Antonio) Aguirre (whom Viloria decisioned in his first defense) and was determined to win. I wasnt distracted by talk of a Koki Kameda fight. I just didnt do what was expected of me."
Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis (Chavit) Singson, who was in the ring when Viloria was introduced by ring announcer Michael Buffer before the fight, put his arm around the dethroned champions shoulder after the fight and consoled him, saying, Thats how life is."
Vilorias record dropped to 19-1, with 12 KOs, while Romero improved his mark to 24-2-1, with 10 KOs.
It wasnt a total eclipse for the Philippines here. In the undercard, flyweight contender Diosdado (Lionheart) Gabi of Davao City blasted veteran Mauricio Pastrana into submission at 1:36 of the first round. Pastrana, a former three-time world champion, went down thrice before referee Richard Steele called it a night.
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