Sydney Morning Herald, Australia
July 8 2007

Determined Darchinyan vows a quick end for Donaire

Winsor Dobbin
July 8, 2007

Vic Darchinyan is the IBF and IBO flyweight champion. He’s had 28
professional fights and won every one of them.

He’s regarded among the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound
and he’s on the verge of million-dollar superfights.

That’s why the Armenian-born Sydneysider knows he can’t afford any
slip-ups when he defends his belts against Nonito Donaire (17-1) in
Connecticut today. The fight is being televised on US network
Showtime. The movers and shakers of the boxing world will be
watching.

With Darchinyan eyeing a bout with either WBC super-flyweight
champion Cristian Mijares or the vacant IBF super-fly title in his
next outing, he has to win, and look good doing so.

"At this stage in my career, I can’t put anything at risk,"
Darchinyan told The Sun-Herald.

"I’ll be looking to take Donaire out quickly."

Darchinyan has won all bar one of his world title fights by knockout.
The exception was a technical decision over Donaire’s brother Glenn
that still rankles.

"It is important for me to win every fight by knockout," he said.

"Glenn Donaire quit on me and they called it a technical decision.
His brother will pay for that.

"I want to make a statement in this fight. To show all those people
who have not recognised me just what I can do. I’m feeling very fit,
very confident, and that is bad news for him."

Darchinyan is a slick boxer and clever technician, but he realises
American fight fans like to see action.

"People want action," he said. "They want knockouts and that’s what
they remember. That’s why I fight like I do. Sometimes I allow a guy
to hit me so he thinks he can, but then I nail him next time."

Darchinyan has a ruthless streak he doesn’t attempt to hide. He left
his last opponent, Mexican Victor Burgos, in a coma.

"He’s OK now, so I can say this, but he made a cutthroat gesture to
me at the weigh-in and I decided I was going to punish him," he said.
"Watch the tape. I was just throwing one punch at a time, to punish
him."

Darchinyan spent time in Los Angeles sparring before flying to the
fight venue in Bridgeport.

?¡ Both boxers yesterday weighed in at the 50.80kg limit. The fight
will be broadcast on Sky Channel. The card starts at 10am.