Viloria wants early KO of Mexican foe

World Boxing Council (WBC) light-flyweight champion Brian Viloria hopes to finish off Mexican challenger Jose Antonio Aguirre early in their 12-round fight at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Feb. 18 ( Feb. 19 in Manila).

"I want to win convincingly. Perhaps an early knockout will do," said Viloria, undefeated in 18 bouts with 12 stoppages. "I’m in great shape. The key here would be my timing."

He has a million-dollar reason to put on an impressive show.

The proud son of Ilocano couple from Narvacan, Ilocos Sur is eyeing a big-money showdown with WBC flyweight interim champion Jorge Arce of Mexico.

Arce (43-3-1, 33 KOs) who is undefeated in his last 23 fights. Only four — one of them Filipino Juanito Rubilar — managed to answer the final bell on Arce’s ongoing streak.

History is pointing to an easy victory for Viloria.

Viloria snatched the 108-lb title from another Mexican Eric Ortiz, whom he stopped with a vicious right hook in the first round.

Ortiz, on the other hand, captured the then vacant throne with a seven-round demolition of Aguirre last March.

While Viloria wants to end the bout quickly, champion trainer Freddie Roach guaranteed that the fighter called "Hawaiian Punch" is ready for a marathon slugfest.

"We’re ready to go 12 hard rounds," he said. "Aguirre is a seasoned fighter. He knows how to wear down his opponent."

According to Roach, Viloria started to spar a month ago and the number of rounds increases as the fight night nears to enhance his stamina.

One of his sparring partners is no less than Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, considered by many as the best teen-aged pro boxer in the world today.