‘Hawaiian Punch’ stops Romero in 9th round; Mayol scores unanimous win

Pasig City—Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria had to wait six years for a chance at vengeance but it was worth it.

Viloria dominated Omar Niño Romero and stopped him in the ninth round Sunday at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City to put an end to their compelling trilogy.

Romero was staggered by a right straight from Viloria in the ninth and was wobbly when referee Michael Ortega signalled a halt to the contest at the 2:09 mark.

It was a sweet victory for Viloria, who lost to Romero in 2006 by unanimous decision for the WBC light flyweight crown. Their rematch ended in a draw but was declared a no contest after Romero failed in the post-fight drug test.

Viloria, thus, retained his WBO world flyweight title for the second time at the Ynares Sports Center. Last December, Viloria beat Giovani Segura by 8th-round TKO for his first successful defense.

He dedicated his last fight to the recently departed Andy Ganigan, a Filipino-Hawaiian like Viloria and a popular boxer during the 1980s.

Viloria scored early with accurate straight punches in the opening round and crisp counter left hooks in the second.

Viloria took his time and steadily increased his punch output as a dazed Romero would walk into the neutral corner at the end of round three and even into Viloria’s corner at the end of the fifth.

The fifth round also saw the Mexican challenger bleed from a cut on his left eyelid. Romero tried to fight back in the seventh and eighth by boxing from a distance but Viloria countered well.

ONE-SIDED MAYOL VICTORY

In a battle of former world champions, Rodel Mayol of Mandaue City knocked down Julio Cesar Miranda thrice and battered the Mexican boxer enroute to a one-sided unanimous 100-87, 99-88 and 97-91 decision win after ten rounds.

A hard left hook from Mayol sent Miranda down in the opening round. A series of hard hooks sent the Mexican down again in the second round. The Mexican then had another trip to the canvas but it was ruled a slip.

Miranda kept moving forward throwing hooks but Mayol tagged him with his jab. In the fifth round, Mayol sent Miranda down once more as the Mexican’s legs sagged after a brutal barrage to the body. But Miranda managed to survive despite being punished until the final bell.

In the other undercards, the fight for the interim WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title between Alvin Makiling and Robert Udtohan ended in a majority draw.

The scorecards read 115-112 for Makiling, and two judges had it 113 all.

Dayer Gabutan Singwangcha retained his WBO Oriental bantamweight title with a unanimous decision win over Dado Cabintoy.