LEGACIES ON THE LINE FOR JORGE ARCE AND VIC DARCHINYAN SATURDAY NIGHT

Examiner.com
Feb 6 2009

Anaheim’s Honda Center will host a potential fight of the year
candidate Saturday night when super flyweight boxer Jorge Arce (Los
Mochis, Mexico, 51-4-1, 39 KO) challenges Vic Darchinyan (Sydney,
Australia, 31-1-1, 25 KO).

Arce is attempting to regain his world class pugilistic shine after
taking a one sided beating from fellow Mexican Cristian Mijares in
April, 2007 that has stained his career. During ensuing year and
half, Arce has racked up five consecutive victories against marginal
opposition. For a man who is well known throughout Mexico due to
his constant presence on the nation’s television networks, a victory
against Darchinyan is necessary if he hopes to be considered one of
the best in the sport and not a fringe media star who happens to fight.

In the build-up for the fight between this pair of prolific talkers,
both men has hurled insults at their foe via the media. Yesterday
during the final press conference for the bout, Arce failed to
appear. This follows a January 24 no-show by Arce at a scheduled
press conference in downtown Los Angeles.

"There is only reason he is not here," said Darchinyan. "He is
scared…I am going to demolish him."

Arce might be playing mind games with the Australian-based Armenian
Darchinyan, but the "Lollipop Cowboy" – Arce’s alias due to his
custom of entering the ring with a sucker in his mouth and Mexican
cowboy hat on his head – better be prepared for his toughest fight
since the bludgeoning his received at the hands of Mijares.

Arce looks to re-establish himself as an elite talent, but
Darchinyan will be fighting to cement himself legacy. After 28
straight victories to kick-off his career, Darchinyan tasted a
savage fifth round knock-out loss to Filipino Nonito Donaire in July,
2007. Darchinyan’s next four fights produced a record of three knockout
wins and one controversial draw against Z Gorres in the Philippines,
but his knockout victory of the highly touted Mijares last year sent
Darchinyan’s status rising in the sport.

If Darchinyan is able to defeat Arce, his loss against Donaire
will be remembered as a painful hiccup in a solid career. A loss to
Arce will cause experts and fans to ponder the reliability of his
ring performances and dissipate any speculation of super flyweight
dominance.