Viloria to be awarded WBC title?

In a bizarre twist, Brian Viloria may be named the new World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion despite failing to regain the crown from Omar Niño Romero who narrowly kept the title on a majority 12-round draw at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas last Nov. 18.

It is almost certain that Romero will be stripped of the title after testing positive for methamphetamines. The Mexican will likely be fined and suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission which conducted the drug test. A case has already been filed by Nevada Attorney General George Chanos against Romero.

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn told The STAR yesterday in an overseas text message that "Niño failed his drug test — very, very high levels of methamphetamine, a stimulant."

Gittelsohn was quoted in the website fightnews.com as saying the stimulant could explain Romero’s energy level late in the fight.

No decision has been announced by the WBC as to whether Romero will be stripped or not. If Romero is stripped, there is a possibility that Viloria will be named the new champion. Another possibility is to order an eliminator to determine Romero’s successor between Viloria and the next available leading contender.

"I believe Brian deserves the title immediately," said Gittelsohn. "I believe the judging was incompetent, not corrupt, but incompetent."

Gittelsohn referred to the majority draw that allowed Romero to retain the crown he wrested from Viloria last August. Judges Samuel Conde and Carol Castellano saw it 113-all and judge Dave Moretti scored it 115-112 for Romero even as Viloria floored Romero in the fifth and ninth rounds.

The first knockdown called by referee Joe Cortez was inconclusive as it appeared that Viloria pushed Romero down after landing a punch. Writer Kevin Iole of the Las Vegas Review Journal said "it was more of a slip as a Viloria left grazed Niño but Viloria’s follow through cuffed Niño at the back of the neck." The second knockdown, however, was undisputed. Viloria landed a solid overhand right that sent Romero stumbling to the canvas.

"I don’t know what more I have to do than knock him down twice," said Viloria in a post-fight conference. "I clearly won the fight. I don’t understand this." Viloria went on to challenge Romero to a third meeting and even dared the Mexican to slug it out right there and then.