Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
March 12 2006

Darchinyan has conquered world . . . now for Australia

By James Macsmith
March 12, 2006

Out of the shadows: Vic Darchinyan craves recognition in his new homeland.
Photo: Fiona-Lee Quimby

In 10 years, Vic Darchinyan will probably be seen as Australia’s best
boxer.

But while the power-punching flyweight has a 25-0 (20 by knockout)
record and is mobbed by fans when he walks down the street in his
birthplace of Armenia, in Australia he remains a virtual unknown –
despite being our only boxing world champion.

Darchinyan counts Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis among his biggest fans,
but the average Aussie would probably struggle to say who he is or
what he does.

Darchinyan craves recognition in this country for his feats in one of
the only truly world sports. In many other parts of the globe, he
would already have it.

His manager, Robert Joske, says Darchinyan should follow what he
calls the Kostya Tszyu model – keep turning it on in the ring and
sooner rather than later, he’ll find himself a place in Australia’s
heart.

Most people who have seen the man they call the “Raging Bull” fight
have become instant fans.

His eighth-round knockout of Diosdado Gabi last week resulted in a
broken jaw and the first stoppage of a 27-fight career for the
Filipino.

Darchinyan’s stand-and-deliver attitude and sledgehammer left hand
bring beauty to what some consider an ugly art.

He said: “I want to be the undisputed champion in not just one weight
division but two or three.

“In Australia, I know about Jeff Fenech and Kostya Tszyu – they are
great fighters and I want to be looked upon like they are.

“There is still not too much recognition of me but I hope that will
change the more people see of me and the more fights I have. I want
to show them what I can do.”

After a quarter-final appearance at the Sydney Olympics, Darchinyan
decided he wanted to call Australia home. In February 2001, he
settled here permanently.

He has already acquired a laid-back Australian attitude and has a
good sense of humour.

Once inside the ropes, however, he is a vastly different proposition.

“I have a hunger that comes from training with many other fighters,”
Darchinyan said.

“For the world title, only 20 fighters can fight out of 1000, so you
have to be the best.”

But to make it in Australia, sometimes you have to make it overseas
first, and Darchinyan intends to continue fighting in the United
States to try to raise his profile.

“I hope that more people in Australia get to watch me and like the
way I fight,” he said.

“This country has made me happy and I hope I can make it happy too.”

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