LAS VEGAS — Brian Viloria won a unanimous decision over Cesar Lopez last night to remain in contention for another shot at the light flyweight title.

Viloria, a Hawai'i native of Filipino ancestry known as "The Hawaiian Punch," put on one of his better performances in years on the undercard of Kelly Pavlik's rematch with Jermain Taylor.

Viloria (21-2, 12 KOs) knocked down Lopez with a strong right hand in the fifth round, and he dominated all three scorecards for his second straight victory since losing to Edgar Sosa last April in a fight for the WBC 108-pound title.

Viloria held the title from September 2005 to August 2006, when he lost a unanimous decision to Omar Nino Romero.

Lopez (20-6) has lost five of his last seven fights, but still has never been knocked out.

Pavlik proved he's no one-hit wonder as he found another way to beat Taylor in the main event.

The knockout artist from Youngstown, Ohio, stayed patient and proficient to beat Taylor for the second time in 4 1/2 months, winning a unanimous decision to remain unbeaten.

Pavlik (33-0, 29 KOs) failed to knock out his opponent for the first time in his last 10 fights, but he threw far more punches and landed more memorable exchanges than Taylor (27-2-1), who came up just short on all three judges' scorecards despite a markedly improved performance after getting his first career loss in their initial bout.

"We both did a better job tonight than the first fight," Pavlik said. "The key was inside pressure. My fight strategy was to put the pressure on him, back him up. My jab and punches landed more this time."

Pavlik stunned Taylor with a seventh-round knockout victory in Atlantic City last year. Pavlik's belt wasn't at stake this time, with both fighters agreeing to a rematch at a catch weight of 166 pounds — 6 pounds above the middleweight limit.

Judge Dave Moretti favored Pavlik 117-111 in the rematch, while Patricia Morse-Jarman had it 115-113 and Glenn Trowbridge scored it 116-112.