Waipahu boxer Brian Viloria will take a new outlook into his renewed championship opportunity in April.

Viloria will face Mexico's Edgar Sosa for the vacant World Boxing Council light flyweight championship on April 14 at San Antonio, Texas.

Viloria, a former WBC light flyweight champion, is 19-1-1 with 12 knockouts, and the No. 1 contender in the 108-pound division. Sosa, who is 26-5 with with 14 knockouts, is the No. 2 contender.

"The WBC said Brian is the leading contender, and he has to fight the next highest contender, who is Sosa," said Viloria's manager, Gary Gittelsohn. "So this is going to be a tough challenge for Brian. Sosa is very skilled. He's rangy and he jabs very well."

The world championship became vacant this month when the WBC stripped Omar Nino of the title because he tested positive for methamphetamine after a controversial draw with Viloria on Nov. 18 in Las Vegas.

Nino took the championship belt from Viloria last August with a 12-round unanimous decision. The rematch resulted in the draw.

"A lot of ringside observers felt like Brian won that fight (in November)," Gittelsohn said. "So he was disappointed with the outcome. Then this whole bizarre series of events took place with Nino testing positive, and I think that got Brian motivated again."

To add more motivation, Viloria will have a new trainer for the April bout. Joe Goosen, whose stable includes champions Diego Corales and Michael Nunn, started training Viloria this month in Van Nuys, Calif.

"It's a very different vibe," Gittelsohn said. "Joe's gym is very business-like, and he's able to spend the quality time with Brian that we feel like Brian deserves."

Viloria's trainer for his first 20 professional bouts was Freddie Roach. In the draw with Nino, a team of trainers from California worked with Viloria.

"There were moments in the last fight where it seemed like Brian lacked motivation from his corner," Gittelsohn said. "I don't think there's anybody better in the business at motivating a fighter than Joe Goosen."

In any case, the winner of the Viloria-Sosa bout will likely have to face Nino.

"The Nevada commission still has a hearing scheduled for Nino, so I'm not sure what his situation will be," Gittelsohn said. "We're just focusing on Sosa right now."

The April 14 championship bout will take place at the Alamodome, and will be promoted by Top Rank, Inc. In the main event, Manny Pacquiao will take on Jorge Solis in a super featherweight championship bout.

The card is scheduled to be televised on pay-per-view.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.