MEXICO CITY -- The WBC declared the light flyweight champion
belt up for grabs Thursday, stripping Mexico's Omar Nino of the
title for testing positive for methamphetamine following a Nov. 18
bout in Las Vegas.
Brian Viloria of Hawaii, currently ranked first in the weight
class, will fight second-ranked Edgar Sosa of Mexico for the title,
the WBC said.
The WBC said the winner will have to defend his title against
the 30-year-old Nino.
"In light of the fact that the WBC believes that Nino did not
voluntarily commit this infraction, and considering that his clean
record has won him the trust of this organization ... we are
declaring that Nino will be the challenger for whoever is the new
champion," a WBC statement said.
Nevada boxing regulators suspended Nino in December after he
became the first fighter to test positive for methamphetamine in
that state. Nino has denied using the drug.
Nino (24-2-2) retained the 108-pound title Nov. 18 with a
majority draw over Viloria, the former champion. Nino first won the
title with a unanimous decision over Viloria in August in Las
Vegas.