Eurosport, France
Sept 2 2006
Darchinyan’s Punch is Pound for Pound Power
Promoter Gary Shaw is finding it very difficult to get a unification
world title bout for his charge Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan. Such is
his power that it is not a stretch to suggest he will be a pound for
pound top ten contender over the next twelve months.
By Paul Upham: While promoter Gary Shaw is finding it very difficult
to get a unification world title bout for him, IBF/IBO flyweight
world champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan just wants to keeping
fighting and knocking opponents out.
His brutal stoppage wins over Diosdado Gabi in March on ShoBox and
Luis Maldonado in June on Showtime Championship Boxing in the USA
have marked him as a boxer not to be messed with. Such is his power
that it is not a stretch to suggest he will be a pound for pound top
ten contender over the next twelve months.
"Vic has been devastating this year," said co-trainer Billy Hussein.
"All of America and Mexico have seen what Vic is made of now. He has
got a lot of power and I think a few of the boxers at flyweight are
running scared."
Shaw tried unsuccessfully to entice undefeated WBO champion Omer
Narvaez 22-0-2 (15) into a match with the "Raging Bull" on October 7.
Despite flying all the way to Argentina from his home in New Jersey,
Shaw was turned down flat by Narvaez and his team.
"If Narvaez doesn’t want to fight me, I can’t force him," said
Darchinyan 26-0 (21). "He is scared. He doesn’t want to lose his
world title to me. Who would not want fight on a big card in Las
Vegas on the Showtime television network?"
30 year-old Darchinyan will now face 26 year-old Glenn Donaire 16-2-1
(9), a Filipino based in Los Angeles, on October 7 in Las Vegas, USA
at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. It will be the main support bout
to Diego Corrales vs. Joel Casamayor III at lightweight on Showtime.
"I saw one of his fights on tape," said Darchinyan, "Glenn is a hard
puncher. His right uppercut is probably his best punch. So I am
working hard to get ready for the fight. I want to put on another
great show. I want to be impressive so that it is easier for my
promoter Gary Shaw to make really big fights for me."
"I have no doubt Donaire will be a tougher opponent than either Gabi
or Maldonado," said Hussein. "He saw Vic beat up his mate Gabi and
asked for a shot at him. He’s very dangerous and I know he will come
to fight on the night."
The Armenia born Australian citizen, who represented his native
country at the 2000 Olympic Games, will leave Sydney on Wednesday and
fly to Las Vegas where he will join his trainer Jeff Fenech, who is
currently working with former undisputed heavyweight boxing world
champion Mike Tyson. Known at one time as the ‘baddest man on the
planet’, 40 year-old Tyson is currently preparing for a farewell
world tour of exhibition bouts with Fenech in his corner.
"As a boxer he was a great fighter," Darchinyan said of Tyson. "I
have met him a few times and he is a good person. He is a quiet
person. I am hoping he can help me. I have good punching power now,
but hopefully Mike will be able to give me a few more ideas on ways
to knock my opponents out."
Billy Hussein is expecting Darchinyan to become one of the biggest
names in boxing over the next two years.
"He is a flyweight, but he has unbelievable power," he said. "I can
see Vic moving up and winning world titles in three or four weight
classes. The more people see him, the more they will want to see him
again. He is going to be a massive attraction in the USA over the
next few years."
With his reputation confirmed as the biggest hitting flyweight boxer
in the world, Darchinyan is now finding other world title holders are
reluctant to step into the ring with him. He hosted the Sydney media
at his new restaurant business, "VIC’S CAFÉ" in The Italian Forum on
Norton Street, Leichhardt on Wednesday and revealed his plans for
many more world titles.
"I’m going back to America to show that I am a worthy champion and to
keep my record in one piece," he said. "People will see that I am the
best flyweight. If Gary Shaw cannot get me fights for the WBC, WBA or
WBO world titles at flyweight, I will move up in weight and win them
at junior bantamweight."
If Darchinyan has any say in it, he will continue his charge to more
world titles by adding another knockout to his resume on October 7.
"I know this fight will be another knockout win for me," said
Darchinyan. "I don’t think I will win by knockout. I know I will win
by knockout. Donaire comes to fight and he punches hard. But not hard
enough to beat me."
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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