Herald Sun (Australia)
June 3, 2006 Saturday
FIRST Edition

All eyes on Aussie Vic

by BARRY MICHAEL

THE world boxing spotlight will be on Vic ”Raging Bull” Darchinyan
when he defends his IBF/IBO flyweight title in Las Vegas tomorrow.

Darchinyan, Australia’s only reigning world boxing champion, will get
huge international exposure when he makes his fourth title defence,
against Mexican Luis Maldonado.

This fight is the main supporting bout to the third battle between
Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo for the WBC lightweight title
at the Thomas and Mack Centre.

Darchinyan is at the peak of his career. The 30-year-old is
undefeated in 25 fights.

Darchinyan is a powerhouse for this weight division, a southpaw who
throws punches with bad intentions from the first bell.

He faces tough opposition here with Maldonado bringing to the ring an
impressive record of 33 wins, one draw and no losses with 25 of his
wins by knockout.

It looms as a great fight between two undefeated warriors who will
wage war from the first bell.

I believe Darchinyan is the strongest flyweight in the world at the
moment and I would be surprised if Maldonado is around to hear the
final bell.

Darchinyan is Armenian-born but now a proud Australian having stayed
in Australia since the 2000 Olympics where Jeff Fenech convinced him
to join his team.

In the fight for the WBC lightweight title, I believe Jose Luis
Castillo will repeat his effort from their last bout by knocking out
Diego Corrales again.

Their first fight saw Corrales out on his feet before clawing his way
back to stop Castillo.

Their second encounter was controversial as Castillo didn’t make the
weight but went on to score a crushing knockout.