Seconds Out
June 4 2006
Darchinyan stops Maldonado in 8, then calls out Arce
Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan hooks Luis Maldonado – Tom
Casino/Showtime
By Paul Upham: The pure power of IBF/IBO flyweight world boxing
champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan was evident when he defended
his titles against Mexican Luis Maldonado by 8th round TKO on
Saturday night. Elevated to main event status at the Thomas & Mack
Center in Las Vegas, USA after the cancellation of Corrales-Castillo
III, Darchinyan showed that even though he weighs in at only 112lbs,
he is among the hardest punchers in the world pound for pound.
“It was great. It is a very, very good feeling,” Darchinyan 26-0 (21)
said, after the win. “Today I was fighting as the main event and it
is a very good feeling. I am very happy with the win.”
Fighting in Las Vegas for the first time, 30 year-old Darchinyan’s
speed and left hand power was impressive, even though he may rely on
it a little too much.
“I have very good power in my left hand,” he said. “My trainer Jeff
Fenech, the three-time world champion, he was telling me not to rush
and go for the knockout punch, it will come. I know I have big power
and I am very proud of my left hand and I want to knock them out. I
want to knock them out with my first punch. With my left, I know and
believe that I can knock out anyone. It is inside of me.”
The southpaw called out popular WBC Interim flyweight champion Jorge
Arce from Mexico for a showdown at 112lbs.
“I want Arce,” he said. “I went to Mexico to challenge him. He told
me that of course he would fight me. Now he is saying that he is
moving up a division. What does this mean? Does it mean that he is
scared? Mexico has some great fighters, but Arce is a chicken. If he
doesn’t want to fight me, just tell me.”
If not Arce, Darchinyan said he is prepared to move up in weight, as
long as he is fighting for more world titles.
“I don’t have any difficulties making my weight at flyweight,” he
explained. “If anyone wants to fight me who has world title belts, I
am ready. From any weight. I want to fight and I want to fight for
world titles. I don’t just want to defend my titles, I want to win
new belts.”
Darchinyan, who is promoted by Gary Shaw, was in his crouching style
early in round 1 as he followed the 28 year-old Maldonado 33-1-1 (25)
around the ring. There were not many punches thrown in the opening
seconds until Darchinyan started to load up with his left hand.
Maldonado turned southpaw towards the end of the round and used the
stance for the majority of the fight. The Mexican countered to the
body after Darchinyan swung and missed wildly. “Throw your second and
third punch Vic,” trainer Jeff Fenech told him in the corner. “Don’t
go for the one big punch.”
After Darchinyan had done enough to win round 1, round 2 was much
closer with Maldonado from Mexicali, Mexico boxing on the outside
nicely. Darchinyan was still looking to land the one big knockout
blow. Maldonado jabbed nicely as he alternated stances. The two
boxers went toe to toe to end the round to the cheers of the crowd.
Maldonado was leading with his punches in round 3, which was his best
round of the fight. Darchinyan swung himself off his feet such was
the fury of his punches. Two good left uppercuts stung Maldonado. Two
more good left hooks at the end of the round cut Maldonado in the
corner of his right eye. Maldonado’s hand speed was slow compared to
Darchinyan’s and two straight lefts rocked the Mexican. Another left
hand, which landed directly on Maldonado’s eye cut, rocked him
backwards.
Maldonado, who is a protégé of the great featherweight Erik Morales,
was not running in round 5, but trying to box and counter from right
in front of Darchinyan. The round was slower, but then a big left
uppercut from Darchinyan hurt Maldonado and forced him back into the
ropes with a follow up left hand.
Two left hooks stunned Maldonado in round 6, who was dropped to the
canvas as he tried to hang on to the world champion. Beating referee
Joe Cortez’ count, Darchinyan swarmed all over the hurt fighter but
was unable to land the one clean blow he was looking for to finish
the fight. Maldonado’s sheer guts kept him in the fight and the two
stood toe to toe trading in the final ten seconds of the round.
A right hand from Darchinyan landed early in round 7. Maldonado was
trying to box his way back in, but a left hand high on the head
slowed him up again. A series of strong left hands from Darchinyan at
the end of the round saw Cortez go to the Mexican’s corner at the
bell. “If he takes more punches like that, I’m going to stop the
fight,” Cortez told Maldonado’s trainer. In Darchinyan’s corner
Fenech said, “Be tidy and be smart. Short punches Vic.”
The end for Maldonado came in round 8. Darchinyan was crouching and
jumping in from long range to land. A left, right, left combination
forced a hurt Maldonado into the ropes and referee Cortez waved off
the contest at the 1:38 minute mark.
The Armenia born Australian citizen had a large viewing audience
watching the world feed in both countries. “I am coming back and I
will show more and more power and win more and more belts,” he told
them. “I will show what I can do in the future and I know you will be
happy and proud of me.”
Also on the card, the Top Rank promoted Yuri Foreman from Brooklyn,
New York won a shut out points win over Jesus Valverde at junior
middleweight. Judges scored the fight for 25 year-old Foreman 100-89,
99-90 and 99-90.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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