Australian, Australia
Aug 25 2005

Darchinyan unleashes fistic fury
Peter Kogoy
August 25, 2005

SOUTHPAW Vic Darchinyan last night retained his IBF and IBO flyweight
titles with a fifth-round TKO of Colombia’s Jair Jimenez in Sydney.

Darchinyan was on top from the opening bell, showing his array of
punching power to wear down a brave Jimenez.

Referee John Wright called a halt to the fight 2min 23sec into the
fifth round.

The Armenian-born Darchinyan’s win took his record since turning
professional in 2000 to 24-0, 19 by knockout.

“I said before the fight that I had the body punches to beat him,”
Darchinyan said.

“Jimenez was brave and tough, but tonight I showed that I am a true
champion. Mentally I came prepared, but it was still a tough fight
because I had been out of the ring for four, five months, a long time
for a fighter.”

Trainer Jeff Fenech said Darchinyan would have a holiday in Armenia
then come back to train for a mandatory defence of his titles against
Irishman Damaen Kelly.”

The fight must be held in the next three months.

Earlier, Billy Dib, who turned 20 three days ago, showed his
potential with a second-round knockout of Uganda’s Michael Kizza to
retain the IBO Asia Pacific junior-lightweight title.

A protege of English superstar Prince Naseem Hamed, with whom he has
trained for the past six months after turning professional a year
ago, Dib was never troubled by the more experienced Kizza.

Dib’s win took his unbeaten record to 7-0 with five knockouts.

“I thought Kizza would give me a tougher fight,” Dib said.

“This win tonight has proved to me that I believe I can go all the
way and be a worthy world champion. I reckon the sky is the limit.”

Dib has the firepower in both fists to carry him a long way.

Fenech said Dib, from Sydney’s south is, “arguably the best prospect
to emerge in years”.

Dib attacked Kizza from the opening bell, sending the African
champion to the canvas midway through the first round with referee
Craig Waller ordering a mandatory eight count.

With Dib landing a flurry of straight jabs, only the bell saved Kizza
from ending his night there and then. As it was, Kizza didn’t last
much longer as Dib found his range and timing to send him to the
canvas with a thundering combination of left jabs and a fearsome
overhead right.

Ahmed Elomar, 22, claimed the vacant IBO Asia Pacific featherweight
belt with a second-round knockout of Thai Denchai Tiabkoon.

“I was expecting a longer fight. I didn’t expect it to be this
easy,” Elomar, of Sydney, said, before issuing a challenge to
Australian title-holder Tommy Browne.

“They say he’s the best in this country, well I’ve got news for him.
I want to be the best.”