BOXING NEWS: RAGING BULL CHARGES ON
Gary Todd
The Sweet Science
August 26, 2005
SYDNEY, Australia (August 24, 2005) – As the bell rang for the first
round in last night’s IBF World championship bout in Sydney, you
just knew who was going to win. Armenian born Vic “The Raging Bull”
Darchinyan was defending his world title and was desperate to make
an impression with the Australian boxing fans, and also stake his
claim as the best flyweight on the planet.
Last night, I think he achieved both, by battering the tough and
experienced Colombian, Jair Jimenez (22-5-1) in five rounds to retain
his title in what could only be described as an awesome display of
sheer power and aggression.
Known as “The Raging Bull” to his fans, Darchinyan charged the
smaller-looking Jimenez and sent out a fast, piston like-jab to
establish his range, before opening up from his awkward southpaw
stance to land some huge, debilitating left hooks to the Colombians
mid-section, before finishing his accurate combinations to his
challenger’s teak tough head.
Jimenez never had a chance and had never experienced this kind of
onslaught in his entire career, and it was clear from the first body
shot landed by the Sydney 2000 Olympian, that this fight was going
to be over sooner rather than later.
Round 1. Darchinyan stalks Jimenez around the ring, jabbing out
consistently before unleashing his power shots catching the Colombian
to the body with seconds to go.
Round 2. Huge body shot to begin the round has Jimenez struggling
for breath. The brave challenger sucks it up, but is throwing nothing
but arm punches. Darchinyan continues to target the body with great
results.
Round 3. Brilliant right-left combination stuns Jimenez, stopping
him on his feet, but he regains his composure to survive the round,
but only just. Big shots from the champion in the last seconds of
the round, and the Colombian’s legs are gone.
Round 4. This is the beginning of the end for Jimenez. After a huge
head and body combination flurry from Darchinyan, the referee gives
Jimenez a standing eight-count, and still punch after punch continues
to rain down on the hard-as-nails Jair Jimenez.
Round 5. Just before Darchinyan came out for the fifth, his trainer,
Jeff Fenech, calls out, “Finish him and lets go home.” Darchinyan gives
a wicked little smile, shrugs his shoulders and does what he has been
told. Darchinyan is battering the Colombian at will and is landing
to the head with big lefts; Jimenez looks like he is going to cry. At
2:23 seconds of the round, Jimenez is saved by the referee. TKO.
Vic Darchinyan decided to make the move to Australia after the 2000
Games in Sydney, and after a lot of setbacks in his five year career,
he is now on top of the world. Darchinyan is champion and is where he
deserves to be. This quiet, often funny little man trains as hard as
any boxer I’ve seen in the gym, and will spar anyone. Fighting out
of triple world champion Jeff Fenech’s acclaimed gym, Darchinyan
pushes himself to the extremes and after all the sacrifices he
has made to get to the top, god help anyone who wants what is his.
Interviewing him after the fight, he said “my goal has always been to
win the world title then unify. I want the WBA champ, Lorenzo Parra,
then WBC champion, Pongsaklek Wongjongkam. If I get these fights,
I’ll be happy. Jimenez was tough, but no-one can take my power.”
Now a world champion, Darchinyan and his people only want the big
fights, and are desperate to attract a following with the Aussie
fight fans, and capture their hearts like another famous immigrant
boxer did, all those years ago in 1991. That man was Kostya Tszyu.
While it is unlikely that he will ever make as much money or attract
the same household status as the rat-tailed “Thunder From Down Under,”
he could achieve the same hall of fame achievements in the ring,
by becoming an undisputed champion.