Doghouse Boxing, Canada
Aug 22 2004

Darchinyan Ready to go to War with Pacheco

Interview by Anthony Cocks, Site Editor (August 22, 2004)

IBF #1 flyweight Vic `Raging Bull’ Darchinyan, 21-0 (16), is
expecting fireworks when he steps into the ring to challenge IBF
champion Irene `Mambaco’ Pacheco, 30-0 (23), for his crown on ESPN2
Friday Night Fights on Sept 3 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and
Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Speaking exclusively to Doghouse Boxing via his cell phone three days
before flying out to the United States, Darchinyan said that he was
happy with his preparation and the hard sparring that he received
from other world rated Team Fenech fighters.

`Training’s been very good, beautiful,’ said the 28-year-old
Armenian-born Australian. `I have good sparring partners, very, very
good. Sparring Hussy (Hussein), Lovemore (Ndou), Skinny (Hussein).’

Ndou in particular has been supplying Darchinyan with some quality
rounds, with the 140lb contender’s ability to fight effectively from
the southpaw stance.

`Exactly. He has been fighting southpaw, very similar to Pacheco. And
he’s giving me good sparring and I’m happy for the sparring. I’m
getting very good as the fight gets closer,’ he said.

Darchinyan, who earned his title shot by twice stopping former WBC
minimumweight interim world champion Wande Chor Chareon and winning a
ten round unanimous decision over former Pacheco victim Alejandro
Felix Montiel, will have his work cut out for him against the rugged
33-year-old Columbian, but he remains undaunted by the task at hand.

Although he admits fighting against another southpaw won’t be easy,
Darchinyan is confident that with the work he has put in in the gym
it won’t present too many problems for him.

`No, of course it’s not easier because I’m used to fighting
orthodox,’ he explained. `I’ve done it in the amateurs many times,
many fights in southpaw and I’m ready for southpaw. Not very
difficult for me, southpaw.

`I don’t think it will be a problem. I am ready for southpaw, it’s
not a big problem for me.’

With both heavy-handed lefties boasting knockout ratios above 76%,
it’s fair to assume that it will be an explosive contest for as long
as it lasts. The 2000 Olympian refutes any suggestion that he will
try to counterbox the aggressive Pacheco.

`No, no, no, I go aggressive like my name `Raging Bull’,’ laughed
Darchinyan. `I go destroy him.’

So does that mean we can expect the fight to finish within the
distance?

`I can’t say,’ said Darchinyan thoughtfully. `But no, I don’t think
so. I look forward to finishing early, but I can’t say. He’s a good
boxer, too.’

Darchinyan believes that the time Pacheco has spent out of the ring
between bouts could come back to haunt him. Since Darchinyan turned
professional in late 2000, he has logged 21 bouts. In the same
timeframe Pacheco has fought just four times.

`It’s very, very bad for a boxer,’ Darchinyan said. `A boxer needs to
have a few fights every year. Last time he fought against Damaen
Kelly nearly ten months ago. I think a boxer needs more fights in a
year and it’s not good for him, you know. He’s not ready now, maybe.’

Darchinyan sees the combination of possible ring rust and Pacheco’s
dislike of fighting off the back foot as the keys to victory on
September 3.

`I want to start from the first round, go forward all the time,
punching. Keep him going backwards. I’ve seen his last few fights and
nobody is pushing him. He likes to push forward, punching. I don’t
think he’s ready for a boxer who can push him back,’ he said.

In November 2000 South African Masibulele Makepula was unlucky not to
walk away with the IBF championship when he pressured Pacheco for
twelve full rounds only to lose a majority decision that most
ringside observer felt he deserved to win. Darchinyan admits he will
be looking to implement a similar game plan against the 11-year pro.

`I have this tape too. I saw it… that’s why I say he’s had a very
bad fight with him. Everyone thinks Makepula beat him, but they give
it to him,’ he said.

Darchinyan, who will be sparring one of the greatest southpaws of the
last decade in Mark `Too Sharp’ Johnson in the States, weighed 55kg
three weeks prior to the biggest fight if his life, but he doesn’t
anticipate the additional four kilos will be hard to lose in the
Miami heat.

`Training in the Miami summer it will be easy to lose, I think,’ said
Darchinyan. `It’s not a big problem. I already done it last year
three times. I fought at 50.8kg.’

If you enjoy watching little men fight who punch well above their
weight, then make sure you tune in to ESPN2 Friday Night Fights on
September 3 because flyweight matchups don’t come any better than
this.