Viloria comes home to a hero’s welcome in Manila

Another boxing champ received a hero’s welcome from Manileños Tuesday.

After successfully defending his World Boxing Organization flyweight title last week, Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria paid a courtesy call on Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim at city hall.

Viloria beat Mexican Omar Niño Romero via a technical knockout in the ninth round of their match at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City on Sunday.

Accompanied by his wife Erica, the 31-year-old boxer later went on a motorcade which took him around the city, waving and smiling at his fans, who included Lim.

Hailing Viloria’s victory as “spectacular and very convincing,” the mayor said the match finally resolved who the better fighter was.

“Now, there is no more question. Once and for all, we can truly say that our champion Brian Viloria is better,” Lim added.

Romero and Viloria’s first match was in August 2006, where the former emerged as the victor. A rematch several months later ended in a draw, which was changed to a no-decision after Romero flunked the post-fight drug test.

“Thank you for your support and I’ll try to do my best to give honor to our country,” Viloria  told the people at city hall.

Viloria, meanwhile, thanked   Wilson Tieng of Solar Entertainment which produced the fight for “showcasing my boxing talents.”

Viloria said that he had no idea who he would face next, adding that he just wanted to rest for now following his victory over Romero. With Ann Clariz Yap