Nino dethrones Viloria to win WBC light flyweight crown
Agence France-Presse
Last updated 11:29am (Mla time) 08/11/2006


LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Mexico's Omar Nino, fighting past 10 rounds for the first time in his career, dethroned previously unbeaten Brian Viloria here Thursday to claim the World Boxing Council light flyweight title.

The challenger from Guadalajara, in his first fight outside Mexico, took a unanimous decision by judges' scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 117-112 and dedicated the triumph to his son Omar Jnr, born just 15 days earlier.

"I have been looking for this title for so long," Nino said. "I was so well prepared. I knew if I fought well I could do it. I was just determined to win. I knew I was going to do it."

Nino improved to 24-2 with one drawn while Viloria suffered his first loss after a 19-0 start to his pro career. It was the second defense of a title he took from Eric Ortiz last September.

"I was disappointed in my performance," Viloria said. "I just fought a really dumb fight and he fought my fight. I just had a bad night."

The result dims the chances for a showdown fight against undefeated World Boxing Association champion Koki Kameda of Japan. Viloria said talk about a fight with Kameda was not a distraction to him for facing Nino.

"I came prepared for this fight. I just had a bad night and Omar fought a smart fight," Viloria said. "He stayed on his toes. He didn't engage with me. I waited too late."