BOXING: KELLY NEXT CHALLENGE FOR DARCHINYAN THE RAGING BULL!!!
By Gavin Stone

EastsideBoxing.com
Oct 17 2005

Darchinyan will make the third defense of his IBF Flyweight world
title against Northern Irelands Damaen Kelly on November 25 at the
State Sports Centre in Homebush, Sydney.

Although this will be the third defense of his title, the Australian
citizen is yet to fully gain the recognition from the Australian public
that he deserves as he is unquestionably Australia’s number one boxer
on a pound for pound scale along with fellow eastern European born
fighter Kostya Tszyu.

With this in mind, it is interesting to take a look at what has led
the southpaw Darchinyan (who is also to holder of the IBO title at
Flyweight) to the current stage of his career in which he holds a
24-0 professional record.

Darchinyan moved to Australia to train under the guidance of 3 time
world champion and Hall of Fame legend Jeff Fenech after the 2000
Sydney Olympic Games. Darchinyan reached the Quarter Finals of the
Sydney Games, and Fenech saw potential in the young Armenian who
finished with a 170 (152-18) amateur fight record. Fenech enticed
the young Darchinyan to join his growing team of fighters, and
sponsorship was obtained from Mr. Henry Hacobian, a well respected
Armenian businessman living in Sydney, Darchinyan was also given the
ring name of “The Raging Bull” by corner man Angelo Hyder and is a
reflection of Darchinyan’s aggressive boxing style. Darchinyan then
made his professional debut in November 2000 at the Sydney Star City
Casino, on a card which was shown live on Fox Sports.

After being steadily brought up through the professional ranks over a 4
year period and picking up one National and two Regional title belts,
Darchinyan built a solid 21-0 record and was ready to challenge for
a world title.

In December 2004 Darchinyan traveled overseas to fight undefeated
Colombian Irene Pacheco for the IBF Flyweight world title. Pacheco had
been world champion for 5 years, and went into the fight as a strong
favorite. In an open air arena in the Hollywood suburb of Florida
(USA), Darchinyan took the reigning champion apart and won the title
via way of an 11th round TKO.

Darchinyan was now on the way, a world title was his and he was ready
to take on the other champions in the division.

Darchinyan made the first defense of the IBF title in a unification
bout with IBO champion Mzukisi Sikali of South Africa. Darchinyan
proved far too strong for the experienced Sikali and won via an 8th
round stoppage which was of the suggestion of Sikali’s corner.

The now unified IBF and IBO Flyweight world champion made his most
recent defense against Jair Jimenez at the Sydney Entertainment
Centre in August of this year. Darchinyan put on a superlative
performance against the strong willed South American winning by a
5th round TKO after Jimenez corner saved their fighter from further
damage, a reoccurring trend with Darchinyan opponents. In this fight
‘The Raging Bull’ showed a tenacity that has been lacking from other
Australian’s in world title fights.

Darchinyan recently returned from a trip to his country of birth in
which he opened a boxing gym in his native town of Vanadzor, and
after coming back refreshed Darchinyan is now ready for his next
challenge. Damaen Kelly will be this challenge.

Kelly holds a 21-2 record and the current IBO Super Flyweight
champion. The 32yo Kelly has also held Flyweight title belts for the
IBO and WBF, and is a recognised world class fighter. The Northern
Irishman will provide Darchinyan with a solid test, however it’s
difficult to see Kelly overcoming the power and strength of the
hometown fighter.

In the opinion of a boxing fan, Vic Darchinyan is one of, if not the
most exciting boxer to watch from a fans point of view. Darchinyan
is enthralling viewing as he exhibits a mental and physical power
that his opponents so far have found impossible to overcome, and
this is delivered in a unique style, a style where by his ring name
“The Raging Bull” suits him down to a tee. Vic Darchinyan is must
see TV for not just any boxing fan, but for all sporting fans alike.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress