Viloria-Niño match declared no contest

The Nevada Athletic Commission is scheduled to formally announce in its meeting Tuesday the temporary suspension of WBC light flyweight champion Omar Niño Romero of Mexico for testing positive for traces of methamphetamine after his successful title defense versus former titlist Brian Viloria.

Commission executive director Keith Kizer said Romero could also have his boxing license revoked, be fined and have the commission rule that his latest bout was a no-decision.

The 30-year-old Romero retained the 108-pound title on Nov. 18 with a majority draw over Viloria though knocked down twice in the Las Vegas bout. Romero won the title with a unanimous decision over Viloria in August in Las Vegas.

Kizer said Romero is the first fighter ever to test positive for methamphetamine in Nevada.

"We’ve never had it. It’s a new thing for us all," he said.

The fighter’s manager, Fernando Beltran, told the Los Angeles Times he believes the test result is flawed and has asked the Nevada Athletic Commission to conduct a second test on the urine sample.

"The kid said he didn’t take anything, and, honestly, I trust this kid," Beltran said. "He’s super surprised. He’s asking as a fighter, as a sportsman, how do you take that (drug) when you perform at a high level over 12 rounds like he did? He’s very curious about this result."

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn has been quoted in the website fightnews.com as saying the stimulant could explain Romero’s energy level late in the fight.

"I believe Brian deserves the title immediately," said Gittelsohn. - With AP report