Viloria eyes revenge vs Romero on May 13

BRIAN “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria will defend his WBO flyweight title for the second time on Philippine soil when he faces old nemesis Omar Niño Romero of Mexico on May 13 Sunday morning (Philippine time) at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Viloria and Romero fought each other twice in Las Vegas in 2006. Viloria lost his WBC light flyweight title to Romero by unanimous decision and the controversial rematch was scored as a majority draw but later declared as a no contest after Romero failed a post-fight drug test and was fined by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).

The 31-year-old Viloria (30W-3L, 17 KOs), who traces his roots to the Ilocos Region, won the WBO flyweight title in Hawaii last year by beating Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda by unanimous decision. He would have a successful first defense against another Mexican, Giovani Segura, last December at the Ynares Center.

The 35-year-old Romero (31W-4L-2D, 13 KOs) is also known for dethroning Rodel Mayol of Mandaue City in a WBC light flyweight title bout in Mexico two years ago. Romero would lose the title to countryman Gilberto Keb Baas by majority decision in his second title defense.

There are reports that if the pending negotiations turn positive, Mayol could be fighting in the undercard with Julio Cesar Miranda as his opponent.