TAMPA, FLORIDA — Former World Boxing Council light flyweight champ Brian Viloria may yet regain his old title after Mexican Omar Ni?o-Romero has been found positive for an illegal substance following a urinalysis conducted after their championship rematch last Nov. 18.
Kevin Iole of the Las Vegas Review-Journal had reported here yesterday that Ni?o-Romero tested positive for methamphetamine, commonly known as ?crystal meth? during the urinalysis.
?I don?t see this as any different than an intentional foul,? said Viloria?s manager Gary Gittelsohn in an interview with Maxboxing.
?This was an intentional violation of the rules and he should be disqualified. Brian not only deserved the title in the ring and was denied it by unfortunate judging. But now he certainly deserves it because Ni?o-Romero is going to be fined and suspended. The title is not his and Brian deserves it.?
The Nevada Attorney General has reportedly filed a formal complaint against Ni?o-Romero and a hearing will be scheduled.
?It kind of just gave me justice on that night and in a weird sort of way. For me, it was shocking at first. It opened up a whole lot of answers or questions, how he went about the fight,? Viloria told KGMB9 here.
?If he wasn?t on drugs, those knockouts or knockdowns would have been a lot more significant. If you?re on drugs and you?re knocked down, of course your reaction is to just get back up, especially if you?re on a high dosage of methamphetamine. You don?t know what you?re capable of doing.?
Filipino trainer Edito Villamor, in an interview, said that if indeed the findings are true, then Viloria should be given the belt, as he won the rematch anyway in the eyes of the public except for the three judges.
Ni?o-Romero, who won the title from Viloria early last year by unanimous decision, retained his crown when their rematch resulted in a majority draw (two judges scored it a tie while the other ruled it for the Mexican).
As a result of the test, officials said the WBC will have to strip Ni?o-Romero of the belt and either award it to Viloria or order an immediate bout between him and the top contender.
