LOS ANGELES--Breaking news reports from the wire service indicate that the WBC has finally stripped Omar Nino of Mexico of the light flyweight title he won from Filipino American Brian Viloria. Nino won the title via a one sided unanimous decision last August 10, 2006 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas. He successfully defended it against Viloria last November 18, 2006 via a 12-round majority draw in spite of being knocked down twice. That fight was the main undercard of the Pacquiao-Morales III at the Thomas and Mack Center at Las Vegas.
Nino tested positive with methamphetamine after a post-fight urine test. Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant and an hallucinogen. The positive test which was contested by Nino was verified by an independent test done at the prestigious laboratory of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) a few weeks later.
Being the No. 1 challenger, Viloria ( 19-1-1, 12KO) is entitled to fight for the vacant title against the No. 2 ranked fighter in the weight class, Edgar Sosa ( 26-5-0, (14KO) of Mexico, the WBC said. Sosa is the Mexican light flyweight champion although in October of 2002, he lost to Omar Nino via a unanimous decision .
In a statement, WBC indicated that they ?believe that Nino did not voluntarily commit the infraction, and considering his clean record, they declared that who ever wins between Viloria and Sosa will be mandated to defend against Nino?.
Nino holds the distinction of being the first fighter in the State of Nevada to test positive for methamphetamine. He was suspended in December 2006.
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