DARCHINYAN DETHRONES KIRILOV WITH 5TH ROUND KO
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
story-18196.html
Aug 3 2008
Philippines
The ‘Raging Bull’ Vic Darchinyan of Australia has captured the IBF
superfly crown by dethroning Dimitri Kirilov of Russia with a 5th
round knockout at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington today.
The power-punching, wild-swinging Armenian born Darchinyan dominated
the defending champion from Russia who put up little resistance
throughout the contest. A flurry from Darchinyan sends Kirilov to the
canvas for the first time in the the first 30 seconds of the fifth
round and a big left a bit later finishes off Kirilov as he failed
to beat the referee’s count.
The 32-year-old Darchinyan is now 30-1-1 with 25 KOs while Kirilov
absorbed his fourth loss for a 29-4-1 (9 KOs) record. Darchinyan’s
only loss came at the hands of current Filipino flyweight champ Nonito
Donaire, Jr. after Donaire dethroned Darchinyan with a spectacular
knockout on July 7, 2007 in Bridgeport, Connecticut for the IBF
flyweight title fight.
Darchinyan last fought Z Gorres of the Philippines to a draw at
the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City in February this year in a title
eliminator for Kirilov’s crown. With Darchinyan ranked higher than
Gorres and because Gorres was cut and needed some time to heal,
Darchinyan got the title shot against Kirilov.
The Darchinyan camp had earlier promised Gorres a title shot and a
rematch if he wins against Kirilov today but other lucrative fights are
also on the horizon for Darchinyan including a rematch with Donaire
or a unification fight with WBO superfly king Fernando Montiel or
WBA/WBC titlist Cristian Mijares.
Top photo: Promoter Gary Shaw (L) and Referee Earl Brown (R) raise the
hands of Vic Darchinyan of Australia after Darchinyan beat defending
champ Dimitri Kirilov of Russia with a fifth round knockout at the
Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington Aug. 2.