Final date for Viloria defense

WBO flyweight champion Brian (The Hawaiian Punch) Viloria’s title defense against nemesis Omar Nino Romero has been reset to May 13 morning in Manila (May 12 night in North America) because of a conflict in the previous schedule involving a Mexican card being staged by Solar Sports TV’s partner Zanfer Promotions.

The Viloria-Romero fight was originally set April 1 then moved to April 22. Solar Sports TV chief operating officer Peter Chanliong said yesterday after conferring with Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn and Zanfer in a conference call linking Manila, Los Angeles and Mexico City, it was agreed to peg the final date for the bout on May 13.

“It’s such a big fight that Mexico wanted to clear the calendar so fans get to watch live via satellite,” said Chanliong. “That’s why we’re putting on the show Sunday morning so it’ll be telecast prime time Saturday night in Mexico and the US. Zanfer is putting up a card on April 21 in Mexico with Cristian Mijares and Cruz Carbajal headlining so it’s a conflict in our reset schedule with Brian. We’re trying to put Al Sabaupan in the Mijares-Carbajal undercard and we’re also trying to add Drian Francisco in the undercard of the Juan Manuel Marquez-Sergei Fedchenko fight in Mexico City on April 14.”

Nothing is certain on the Sabaupan and Francisco bouts but their manager Elmer Anuran said the fighters are ready to bang if and when the call comes through. “The Mexican promoters are showing interest to bring in Drian to fight a 10-rounder in the Marquez undercard,” said Solar Sports TV’s Paolo Diaz. “We’re hoping to get it done. Elmer informed us that both Drian and Al are training hard so they’re prepared to go if the fights are arranged.”

Chanliong said it’s time for Francisco, once the WBA interim superflyweight titleholder, to reemerge and reclaim his lofty world ranking. “Drian needs to get busy,” said Chanliong. “He hasn’t fought in over six months. There are offers to fight in Thailand but getting exposed in a Marquez undercard in Mexico would be a big thing.”

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Francisco, 29, was floored once and lost a unanimous 12-round decision to Tepparith Singwancha in Petchaburi, Thailand, last May. It was his first pro defeat. Tepparith went on to become the WBA superflyweight champion. Last September, Francisco came back to outpoint rugged Michael Domingo in Makati. He hasn’t fought since. Domingo, meanwhile, rebounded to knock out Marvin Tampus in a single round three weeks ago and is now slated to battle two-time IBF bantamweight ruler Joseph Agbeko for the vacant IBO 115-pound belt in Accra, Ghana, on May 26. Francisco is getting left behind in the race for a title and the opportunity to fight in Mexico could fast-track his quest. Francisco’s record is 21-1-1, with 16 KOs, so he has the credentials to make a global impact in the fight game.

Marquez is coming off a loss to Manny Pacquiao last November and meets untested “mystery man” Fedchenko, a Ukrainian with a 30-1 record, including 13 KOs. The fight is for the interim WBO lightwelterweight throne. Fedchenko has fought exclusively in Ukraine except for two bouts in Monaco and one in Germany. Two years ago, Fedchenko posted his biggest win in a decision over DeMarcus (Chop Chop) Corley, who once shook up Floyd Mayweather but lost on points in 2004.

As for Sabaupan, he was initially penciled to face Mexico’s Marvin Quintero in an IBF eliminator to determine the No. 1 lightweight contender in the Viloria-Romero undercard. But the fight may now land in the undercard of the Mijares-Carbajal mainer. Mijares, 30, is a former IBF, WBC and WBA superflyweight champion while Carbajal, 37, is a former WBO bantamweight titlist. They’re vying for the vacant WBC International Silver superbantamweight crown.

Sabaupan, 23, is from Camarines Sur and packs an 18-0-1 record, with 13 KOs, while Quintero, 25, totes a 24-3 mark, with 20 KOs. Both are hard-hitting 5-7 southpaws so their match is expected to be a fierce slugfest.

The swirl of boxing events convinced Chanliong, Gittelsohn and Zanfer to postpone Viloria’s much-awaited defense against Romero in what is expected to write a conclusive ending to their trilogy. There was also the issue of Romero paying a fine of close to $12,000 to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for failing a drug test in a 2006 bout against Viloria. The fighters had battled to a majority draw but the bout was later declared a no-contest after Romero tested positive for methamphetamine, an illegal substance. Three months earlier, Romero wrested the WBC lightflyweight crown from Viloria on a unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

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Romero got away from not paying the fine until NSAC executive director Keith Kizer found out about his coming fight in Manila. Kizer wrote to WBO president Paco Valcarcel suggesting to withhold sanctioning Romero as a challenger until he pays the fine. Valcarcel agreed even as the WBO is not obligated to enforce payment as it was not a party to the 2006 fight. The speculation is Zanfer will pay the fine for Romero, probably taking it out from his purse in the Viloria fight.

The third Viloria-Romero bout has created a stir in boxing circles, particularly in Mexico. Viloria hasn’t beaten Romero in two previous meetings but now appears ready to break the jinx, fresh from back-to-back wins over tough Mexicans Julio Cesar Miranda and Giovani Segura. Romero won his two WBC lightflyweight titles at the expense of Filipinos, first Viloria then Rodel Mayol. Will Viloria finally exact payback on Romero? Or will Romero frustrate Viloria a third time?