15 years ago today: Brian Costales "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria vs. Omar Niño "Giant Killer" Romero I

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First bout in a trilogy ultimately deadlocked for both without resolution at 1-1-0-1. (originally a slightly reordered but still deadlocked 1-1-1; their rematch was a majority draw, overturned into a NC when Romero failed a post-fight drust test)

Viloria was a highly touted blue-chip pickup by Top Rank, with a 230-8 amateur record including victories over both Donaire brothers in the Olympic qualifiers in 2000 (sparking a years-long rivalry with his fellow Pinoys, which never did bear fruit with a professional grudge match as was hotly anticipated). Romero was a step up for him - but not that much of a step up, considering that Romero had been knocked out by journeyman - and Viloria kayo victim - Gilberto Keb Baas.

 

Brian Costales Viloria vs. Omar Niño Romero I, 12 rounds @ light flyweight

 

Round 1

Viloria is walking up to Romero, showing the jab, and then leaning back to draw the lead. Viloria flurrying with hooks and straights on the head when the Mexican leans forward throwing his own high jab or reaching in with tentative body shots.

10-9 Viloria

 

Commentators musing on a potential Viloria vs. Kōki Kameda, then a brash 19 year old phenom taking the Japanese boxing world by storm with his trash-talk as much as his in-ring talent. They give a hand-wave to "...if he gets past Omar Niño here, of course" but clearly consider that all but a foregone conclusion.

 

Round 2

Viloria is doing lots of posing, watching and waiting on the outside. A few jab feints at different altitudes by Viloria, but he refuses to step into countering range and instead just keeps idling warily on the outside. Romero stretching in long body jabs, legs splayed, head dipping to his side on the way in and then drawing himself up straight and narrow after delivering his payload.

10-9 Romero

19-19

 

...venue DJ playing The White Stripes between rounds...

...young Freddie Roach with a full head of ginger hair, and not shaking all that much...

...Kenny Bayless with prime intensity...

...OLN?!!? I'd forgotten it used to be called that, before it was Versus Network.

Everything about this is just so very 2006.

 

OLN stats in round two:
Viloria 7 of 21, 33%
Romero 15 of 50, 30%

 

Round 3

Viloria is keeping a very low output, standing off from Romero, raising and lowering his fists while turning his shoulders inward a few degrees by turns, rhythmically - looking more like a character on the load screen of a boxing video game than a fighter in the middle of a title fight. Romero the only man taking chances in there, stretching in those body jabs or just leaping in and paddling Viloria's sides with underhanded combos before they slam together in clinches.

10-9 Romero

29-28 Romero

 

Punch stats in round three:
Viloria 8 of 32, 25%
Romero 20 of 76, 26%

 

Round 4

Viloria is getting backed up with stiff high left jabs between his eyes and buzzed with the occasional right cross put out confidently by Romero. More body punches being landed by the Mexican challenger than combined punches from the incumbent making this lackluster second defense. Romero with the best sequence of the round, eating a double right hand from a dropping-anchor Viloria in order to land a right hand/left hook combo across the jaw.

10-9 Romero

39-37 Romero

 

Round 5

Viloria seems frozen by the Romero jab, still. Romero stalking, menacing Viloria from a pace out directly in front of him, squatting and elevating in place and then falling in with everything from lead rights to shoeshines on the body. Viloria starts to wake up late with some jump-in right hands, but Romero moving out of the way and scoring counters before Viloria's feet touch down.

10-9 Romero

49-46 Romero

 

Freddie Roach very blunt with Brian on his stool, telling him "you've got to suck it up, and start to score on this guy, or you're going to lose".

 

Man, talk about blowing it. Hard to watch a hyped and well-regarded unbeaten champion just hand away his title and his zero like this by just...doing nothing. You don't see it often.

 

Round 6

Viloria is loading up on hungry-hungry-hippo counter rights, hoping to catch Romero coming in, but his timing just a bit off, and he isn't sitting down on them as he remains preoccupied with reforming his guard ASAP. Romero jabbing from outside to keep his prey lined up and targeting Viloria's head with power shots when open, and otherwise content to lower his arms to wrecking-ball the sides of Viloria rushing in.

10-9 Romero

59-55 Romero

 

Stats halfway:
Viloria 50 of 174, 29%
Romero 103 of 384, 27%