DARCHINYAN FETED BY FILIPINOS

Sunday Territorian
January 31, 2008 Thursday
Australia

SYDNEY: They will bay for his blood on Saturday, but Filipino
fight fans are lavishing rock star treatment on Australian boxer
Vic Darchinyan in the lead-up to his world super flyweight title
eliminator against Z Gorres.

An amazed Darchinyan (pictured) said he was getting far more
recognition in Cebu City than in his adopted home of Sydney.

Prior to losing his IBF and IBO flyweight world titles to Nonito
Donaire last July, the Armenian-born slugger was fast becoming the
scourge of Filipino fighters.

Darchinyan’s manager Elias Nasser said his fighter had been in huge
demand for autographs and photos.

"He’s like a rock star. It’s unbelievable, he gets stopped every step
he takes," Nasser said.

Darchinyan completed his sparring last Monday in a light session with
his stablemate Hussein Hussein.