honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, February 2, 2007

Viloria to fight for title after WBC takes belt from Nino

Associated Press

Omar Nino, left, and Brian Viloria in their Nov. 18 bout in Las Vegas.

Advertiser library photo

spacer spacer

MEXICO CITY — The WBC declared the light flyweight champion belt up for grabs Thursday, stripping Mexico's Omar Nino of the title for testing positive for methamphetamine following a Nov. 18 decision win over Waipahu's Brian Viloria in Las Vegas.

Viloria, currently ranked first in the weight class, will fight second-ranked Edgar Sosa of Mexico for the title, the WBC said.

The WBC said the winner will have to defend his title against the 30-year-old Nino.

"In light of the fact that the WBC believes that Nino did not voluntarily commit this infraction, and considering that his clean record has won him the trust of this organization ... we are declaring that Nino will be the challenger for whoever is the new champion," a WBC statement said.

Nevada boxing regulators suspended Nino in December after he became the first fighter to test positive for methamphetamine in that state. Nino has denied using the drug.