The Age, Australia
Oct 15 2005
Lonely at top for flyweight
By Stathi Paxinos
October 15, 2005
FLYWEIGHT Vic Darchinyan, Australia’s sole remaining world champion,
says he will be forced to go to America for his pay days if interest
in boxing in this country falls any lower.
Darchinyan, who arrived in Melbourne yesterday to attend tonight’s
Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame induction dinner, said
Australian boxers needed to reverse this year’s disappointing results
and claim world titles to maintain interest in the sport.
Australian boxing’s year started brightly, with Kostya Tszyu and
Darchinyan holding world titles and Robbie Peden winning the
International Boxing Federation junior-lightweight belt in February.
But the Armenian-born Darchinyan conceded he was now feeling a bit
isolated at the top after a year that included junior-welterweight
king Tszyu losing his crown, Peden also losing his belt last month
and super-middleweights Anthony Mundine and Danny Green both being
beaten in world title shots.
“At the moment, we are a little bit down in Australia, but what can I
say? I hope that we have a lot more world champions and Australians
get more involved in boxing … I want to tell all of Australia (that)
I’d like you to support me. If I can’t see support, I can’t stay long
here. If they give me more money in America, I will leave but I don’t
want to go. I’ve been here for five years … I love Australia, it’s
the best place,” Darchinyan said.
Darchinyan, planning the third defence of his IBF belt
on November 25 against Northern Ireland’s Damaen Kelly in Sydney, was
confident Australian boxers could bounce back next year.
The boxing fraternity is gathering in Melbourne for the announcement
of 10 inductees, who have been chosen in six categories (moderns,
old-timers, veterans, pioneers, non-participants and honorary
internationals) by boxing historians and commentators. This will be
the event’s third year, with previous inductees including Jeff
Fenech, Jeff Harding, Les Darcy and Johnny Famechon. Nominees include
Tony Mundine, Hector Thompson, Paul Ferreri and Bobby Dunlop
(moderns); Fred Henneberry, Tom Uren, Bill Squires and Jack Green
(old-timers); and Merv Williams, Johnny Lewis, Ray Mitchell and Bill
Mordey (non-participants).