By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Trainer Freddie Roach says that WBC light flyweight champion Brian Viloria is too good for former champion Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico and should retain his crown when the little Filipino makes his first title defense on February 18 in Las Vegas.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Roach said Viloria “is took quick and punches too hard” for Aguirre although he conceded that Aguirre was “a tough kid .” Viloria is right now in serious training at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
Viloria won the title with a sensational first round knockout over another Mexican Eric Ortiz last September 11 after Ortiz won the title with a seventh round TKO over Aguirre on March 11 last year. In fact in his last recorded fight on August 20, Aguirre suffered a fourth round TKO at the hands of Roberto Vasquez in a WBA light flyweight title fight.
In the January ratings of the WBC Aguirre was ranked No.13 while another Filipino Juanito Rubillar was ranked No.1. Rubillar’s manager Gabriel ”Bebot” Elorde Jr said he had protested the title shot given to a boxer who was not even in the top ten at the expense of his fighter. Elorde said WBC president Jose Sulaiman had guaranteed Ribillar a title shot against the winner of the Viloria-Aguirre championship bout..
There are those who have questioned the justification for the Viloria vs Aguirre title fight and the WBC’s approval. Even the Nevada State Athletic Commission is being questioned over its allowing the fightg to take place in Vegas?”
It has been pointed out that Aguirre hasn’t won a fight since 2004 and that his wins were over mediocre boxers. Aguirre beat Jorge Romero over ten rounds in May but Romero reportedly hadn’t won in over three years while Kermin Guardia another fighter that was beaten by Aguirre hadn’t won a fight.
