World opens up for Darchinyan
Herald Sun
Grantlee Kieza
20dec04
AUSTRALIA’S new world boxing champion, Vic Darchinyan, was back in
Sydney yesterday promising his IBF flyweight title was just the start
of his domination.
And Australia’s most powerful boxing official, Ray Wheatley, who
orchestrated Darchinyan’s assault on the long-time IBF world champion
Irene Pacheco in Florida on Friday, says the new champ can keep the
crown for years. “Vic can dominate the flyweight title in the same way
Kostya Tszyu has ruled the junior welterweights for nearly a decade”
IBF vice-president Wheatley said.
“Kostya won the IBF junior welterweight title in 1995 and then crushed
the champions of the other major boxing organisations, the WBC and WBA.
“I can see Vic doing the same thing.
“Irene Pacheco was a great champion who had held the title for five
years and had never lost in 30 fights dating back to 1993.
“He has been an exceptional IBF champion but, with Jeff Fenech calling
the shots, Vic came out and crushed him.”
Darchinyan, 28, used a series of left hooks to separate Colombian
Pacheco from his crown in round 11 and wants to apply the same brutal
force to WBC flyweight champ Pongsaklek Wongjongkam.
The Thai pocket-sized southpaw sharpshooter shot down the title hopes
of Fenech’s other flyweight contender, Hussein Hussein, in Bangkok
last year.
“I will crush Pongsaklek,” Darchinyan said.
He was in Hussein’s corner the night he lost and has been licking
his lips since for the chance to tangle with the Thai.
“I want to make one defence of the IBF title and then go after him,”
Darchinyan said.
Darchinyan will enjoy a few weeks’ holiday with his parents, who are
coming out from Armenia for three months to celebrate his triumph.
Then he will resume training with Hussein, who hopes to face WBO
champ Omar Narvaez of Argentina at Penrith on February 6.
It has been a remarkable rise for Darchinyan, who lost in the
quarter-finals at the Sydney Olympics when representing Armenia and
using his real first name, Vakhtang.
The 51kg fighting force wanted to have his photo taken with that
other great Vic, Vic Patrick, not long ago, but was too shy to ask.
Patrick was Australia’s great lightweight of the 1940s and the pair
have a similar style, with a crab-like southpaw stance and awesome
power in both hands. But Darchinyan also boasts the intensity and
relentless aggression of his trainer, Fenech.
“Vic is an incredibly strong guy,” said Fenech, who says his fighter
can match his feat of three world titles at different weights.
“Not only does Vic have tremendous power but he has great desire and
determination, too. He’d fight Mike Tyson if he had the chance and,
like Kostya, he is incredibly professional and focused on what he
wants to achieve.”