DARCHINYAN LOOKING TO CONQUER ANOTHER WEIGHT CLASS

LIVENEWS.com.au
Aug 2 2008
Australia

Australia’s Vic Darchinyan is already looking at unifying the super
flyweight boxing division and moving up to conquer another weight
class, even before his challenge IBF super flyweight world champion
Dimitri Kirilov in Washington tomorrow.

Darchinyan is favoured by the bookies to topple the Russian and add
the IBF crown to the less prestigious IBO title he already holds.

The 32-year-old Armenian born fighter moved up to super flyweight
late last year after winning the IBF and IBO flyweight championship.

According to his handlers, Sydney-based Darchinyan was in terrific
shape for tomorrow’s fight, boasting strong muscle definition and
was even able to eat on the day of the weigh-in.

"This fight is very important to me," Darchinyan told AAP from
Washington.

"I’m looking to not just win this title, I want to win all the belts
in this weight division.

"There’s only two other champions holding all the other belts at
super flyweight and if one of us becomes (the undisputed) champion
it’s very nice and that one is going to be me.

"I don’t want to just become undisputed champion, I don’t want to stay
too long in this weight division, I want to fight for (other) belts.

"I’m 32, I want to move because I can feel big power.

"I can fight any opponent larger than me and I feel powerful and
every day the power is getting more and more."

Darchinyan has reunited with his first trainer from Armenia for
this fight.

The Australian fighter said he had a very good record against Russian
boxers during his amateur days.

"I sparred and trained Russians, I know their style," Darchinyan said.

"I’m very focussed for the fight. People are going to see a strong,
smart and focussed fighter."

Darchinyan said Kirilov had a typical Russian style and he expected
the champion to try and move around in tomorrow’s fight rather than
stay in front of him and trade blows.

The challenger said he had friends from Australia, Armenia and Los
Angeles attending the fight, with his wife and one-year-old son to
join him on the day of the contest.

Around 160 rounds of sparring have helped Darchinyan get into top
shape for the bout, his first in the American capital.

Kirilov, 29, has a record of 29 wins (9 KOs), three losses and a draw.

Darchinyan has logged 29 wins (23 KOs), one loss and one draw.