Vic’s no lightweight: Fenech

Sydney Morning Herald , Australia
July 21 2005

Jeff Fenech has predicted his IBF world champion Vic Darchinyan could
become one of the greatest flyweight boxers but warned him against
overconfidence and the right hand of Colombian challenger Jair Jimenez.

Darchinyan will make the second defence of his IBF title at the Sydney
Entertainment Centre next Wednesday.

Already boasting an imposing professional record of 23 consecutive
wins (18 by KO), 29-year-old Darchinyan will start a warm favourite
against his ninth-ranked opponent.

Fenech, who persuaded Darchinyan to move to Australia after he
represented Armenia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, praised his fighter.

“I watched him spar yesterday and the maturity he showed me was
something that I’d been looking for for a long time,” Fenech said
yesterday.

“He was patient and I watched him spar the same guy five times and it
was unbelievable, he was just dictating so well. My biggest problem
with Vic is that it’s great to be arrogant and great to be confident
but this kid is sometimes a little over [confident].

“I just want him to realise the guy he is fighting is going to be a
very, very tough fighter.

“If Vic doesn’t go out there and listen and do the right thing,
it’s as easy to lose the title as it is to gain it, I just hope he
realises that. If he does what he did yesterday, this kid has got
the potential to go down as one of the greatest flyweights ever.”