By Ronnie Nathanielsz

WBO world flyweight champion Julio Cesar “Pingo” Miranda of Mexico has succeeded in having two of the judges, including the Philippines Danrex Tapdasan changed, days before his title defense against former two-time light flyweight champion Brian Viloria.

WBO Asia Pacific vice president and fight supervisor Leon Panoncillo told the Daily Inquirer shortly after arriving in Honolulu that “ There was a last minute change because the world champion Miranda did not agree to a Hawaii Judge that the local commission required and that Danrex Tapdasan from the Philippines was a Filipino.” 

With Miranda threatening not to fly to Honolulu to defend his title unless there was a change in the judges, the Hawaii Boxing Commission gave in.

Tapdasan was replaced by veteran judge Tamotsu Tomihara who hasn’t judged a fight in years and even American Robert Byrd was replaced without any explanation by Robert Hoyle.

The only judge originally named by WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel who retained his place was Dr. Ruben Garcia from Texas .

Joe Cortez remains as referee. It was Cortez who, after declaring a clear head-butt in Manny Pacquiao’s first fight against Erik “El Terrible” Morales which caused a nasty gash above the eye as caused by a punch, never refereed a Pacquiao fight again because of allegations of bias.

Viloria’s manager Gary Gittelsohn earlier told the Inquirer that Miranda’s camp had made some unbelievable demands which he gave into purely because he wanted Viloria not to have to wait for a chance to win a third world title although he conceded it would be a tough fight.

The Viloria-Miranda title fight will be telecast by ABC 5 starting at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday and will be followed at 3:00 p.m. by the tune-up fight of WBC lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez against former WBA champion Likar Ramos of Colombia.