DARCHINYAN SET FOR WORLD TITLE DEFENCE

Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
The West Australian, Australia
The Age, Australia
Nov 22 2006

Australia’s dual world flyweight boxing champion Vic Darchinyan may
have to forgo some Christmas cheer, with a mandatory defence against
former world champion, Victor Burgos mooted for early January.

IBF and IBO champion Darchinyan returned earlier this week from the
country of his birth, Armenia, where he took a break following the
successful defence of his titles against Filipino Glenn Donaire in
Las Vegas last month.

According to Darchinyan, his next fight could well be in the same
city on January 7 on a proposed Don King promotion.

His American promoter Gary Shaw has told Darchinyan his next bout
will be against leading IBF contender Burgos.

The 32-year-old Mexican formerly held the IBF light flyweight world
title.

While his overall record includes 14 losses alongside 39 wins and
three draws, Burgos has suffered just one defeat in his last 12
contests stretching over six years.

Darchinyan revealed he had a special incentive to win his next contest
as the IBO would present him with a ring if he made a fifth successful
defence of its title.

The 30-year-old southpaw has already earned a ring from the IBF after
making three victorious defences of that title, though he has yet to
collect it.

He was still waiting to hear whether his appeal over the official
result of his fight against Donaire was successful.

The contest was declared a technical decision victory for Darchinyan
after Donaire was unable to continue beyond the sixth round due to
a jaw injury the referee deemed caused by a head clash.

Darchinyan was adamant there was no such contact and has lobbied
for the result to be amended to a KO, which would be the 21st of his
unbeaten professional log of 27 fights.

Meanwhile veteran Shannan Taylor today announced he would fight Nonoy
Gonzales for the vacant IBF Australasian middleweight title at Fairy
Meadow on December 15.

Taylor said he was more focused than for his last fight where he
suffered a shock loss to Canadian Ian MacKillop back in July, when
he was distracted by promotional problems outside the ring.

He said he planned to move back to light middleweight and fight
MacKillop in a re-match next February, provided he defeated Gonzales,
who has lost his last seven bouts.

Taylor, who will also promote the December 15 show, said the undercard
would include world ranked Nedal Hussein and unbeaten rising stars
Daniel Geale and Lenny Zappavigna.