VILORIA RETAINS WORLD TITLE WITH ROUSING 9TH ROUND TKO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 May 2012
World Boxing Organization flyweight champion Brian Viloria scored a rousing 9th round TKO victory over former two-time light flyweight champion Omar Nino Romero before a throng of cheering Filipino fans at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
American referee Michael Ortega called a halt with Romero groggy and wobbling against the ropes near his own corner, following a barrage of telling blows from Viloria. The stoppage came at 2:07 of the ninth round.
At the time the fight ended all three judges had Viloria winning comfortably with American judges Carlos Ortiz and Glen Feldman having the champion ahead 79-72 and 80-70 respectively while Filipino judge Atty. Danrex Tapdasan had Viloria ahead 80-71.
Viloria started aggressively connecting with a solid right followed by a one-two combination in the opening round but Romero fought back before Viloria stopped him in his tracks with a left hook.
The third round was decisive for Viloria as he nailed Romero with a cracking right hand followed by a combination capped by two left hooks, and as the challenger came forward Viloria caught him with another counter left hook.
Romero was cautioned by referee Ortega for hitting on the break before Viloria nailed him with a cracking right that shook the challenger who mistakenly walked to the neutral corner when the bell sounded.
Viloria told us later, ?I was patient. I knew that if I walked him down, broke him down when I rocked him in the third and his eyes watered up a little bit I knew okay, I got him. But I didn?t want to rush and get open for any wild punches. I told myself settle down, continue what your?e doing and its just a matter of time before you put him away, and I did.?
Viloria kept the pressure on the Mexican and hurt him once again in the fourth with a vicious right hand that sent Romero staggering all over the ring as the champion picked his punches and battered the challenger, often switching from the head to the body.
Romero retaliated with a low blow even as the fans chanted ?Viloria! Viloria!?
Another superb combination by Viloria early in the fifth round sent Romero staggering towards the ropes. The challenger retaliated with another low blow which forced referee Ortega to take away a point. Romero who sported a small cut on the side of his left eye again walked to the wrong corner.
The tough and rugged Romero who appeared a little slower than when he fought Viloria in the past, changed tactics and tried to bully his way back into the fight even as the ring lights dimmed for a moment reflecting the dimming prospects of the challenger as the fight progressed.
With his likeable manager Gary Gittelsohn screaming to Viloria to use his left jab the champion obliged with a stinging left and a superb right hand that sent Romero reeling against the ropes and on the verge of going down when referee Ortega stepped in and waved the fight off.
With the impressive win Viloria improved to 31-3 with 18 knockouts while the 35 year old Romero who declined to attend a post-fight press conference dropped to 31-54-2 with 13 knockouts.
Viloria who had said in a pre-fight interview with the Manila Standard that Romero who won their first fight and then held Viloria to a controversial draw in their rematch which was later changed to a ?no contest? after Romero tested positive for a banned substance in a post fight medical examination, was like a monkey on his back which he wanted to get rid of. After beating Romero, Viloria said ?I finally got the monkey off my back.?
Viloria said his training through the years including his painful losses ?were all learning experiences that led up to this point and helped me garner this win. The first couple of times I lost it gave me a doubt, how my confidence was and how my style is as a fighter and when I took that off it reminded me that I have all the tools and if you use it, it will work out for you. Don?t be gun shy and use it and be the best Brian Viloria you can be. That?s all it took today.?
Viloria said he feels ?comfortable at this weight and didn?t feel I was drained and even with the heat I felt I was in great shape. When I look back at all the things I?ve gone through these past few years all this happened because I put in all the work. Without all the hard work, the times we woke up at 4:00 a.m. to hit the mountains, without all of that this wouldn?t happen. ?
The 31 year old champion said he wants to take a rest and keep his commitment to his wife Erika to go on a long delayed honeymoon to Europe before he would sit down with his team to set up his next fight. He mentioned a desire for a unification fight against WBA champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez and undefeated light flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez.
Viloria said ?I told you when I first won the title from ?Pingo? Miranda that I want to stay as a champion as long as I can and I said then I?ll be a world champion for a while because I know what it takes and have learned a lot. I have finished my second title defense impressively I hope and more and more to go.?
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