* Armenian-born Australian wins IBF title
* Darchinyan stops Sikali
* Darchinyan stops Sikali in 8th round
* Darchinyan Retains IBF Flyweight Title
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Armenian-born Australian wins IBF title
AP Worldstream
Mar 27, 2005
Armenian-born Australian Vic Darchinyan retained his International Boxing
Federation flyweight title with an eighth-round stoppage of South African Mzukisi
Sikali at the Sydney Olympic Park Sports Center on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Darchinyan, who was making his first defense of the title he
won in December, was leading by one point on two of the judges’ cards and by
three on the third at the time of the stoppage.
It was the unbeaten Darchinyan’s 23rd consecutive win and his 18th by
knockout.
Sikali lost for the sixth time in 38 bouts.
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DARCHINYAN STOPS SIKALI
EastSideBoxing
March 27 2005
27.03.05 – By Tony Nobbs: IBF Flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan made
a successful first defence and added the IBO title by stopping South
African Mzukisi Sikali in an entertaining “unification” at the State
Sports Centre in Homebush on Easter Sunday night. In a battle of left
handers, it was Darchinyan’s vaunted power that told in the end and
Sikali, who looked to be wilting in the seventh round pulled a “no
mas” at 2 min 22 seconds of round eight. He’d been hurt through the
round and a short right uppercut was the last punch of the fight.
Not an action packed slugfest but a good match between a still
progressing champion and a skilful but slow veteran. Sikali did a
good job standing in front of Vic and making him miss but his
counters lacked the pep to seriously fluster Sydney’s Armenian
Olympian who loaded up just about everything as usual and dug in some
telling shots to the body and uppercuts to the head. The visitor was
only going to take stiff punishment had he continued. Both fighters
ended up with cuts and swelling and ‘the victor’ looked to be tiring
in the fifth before turning it back on.
Darchinyan won the IBF title from long time champ Irene Pacheo via
eleven round TKO December last and called out WBA title holder
Lorenzo Parra after the fight. He has been the flag bearer for Team
Fenech fighters in world title bouts.
In the undercard action IBF light welter Pan Pac Champ Lovemore Ndou
knocked out Jesar Anjeras The Philippines in round two. A left to the
body. The visitor had gone eight with Noefel Ben Rabah, the West
Australian hope who has been calling Ndou out for a long time.
Nadel Hussein needed just 36 seconds to dispose of Tanzanian Obete
Ameme. Two left rips and Ameme fell along the ropes. This was
Hussein’s first bout back since dropping a lack lustre unanimous
decision for the WBC 122 lb belt
in the Barrera-Morales 3 chief support.
2004 Australian Olympic boxing team captain Jamie Pittman dominated a
game Peter Brennan over six. All judges had it 60-52. Southpaw super
middleweight Pittman looks classy but there is still a lot of work to
be done.
In a battle of 21 year olds, Jnr lightweight Ahmed Elomar, from the
impressive Billy Hussein stable outpointed once promising Filipino
Rolando Gerongco in a willing six rounder. The tough Rolando, who
weighted lightweight, has lost six straight (some close decisions)
and is in desperate need of a win to get his career going again or
risk the danger of becoming a plodding trial horse.
Former amateur star Chris Hamilton knocked out once dangerous Sam
Setu in round three. A southpaw left did the job. Middleweight
Hamilton had around 3 ½ kg pull in weights.
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Darchinyan stops Sikali in 8th round
SecondsOut
March 27 2005
IBF/IBO champion Vic Darchinyan
by Paul Upham at ringside:
IBF world champion Vic Darchinyan 23-0 (18) continued to establish
himself as a real force in the flyweight division and added the IBO
world title to his collection when he defeated South African Mzukisi
Sikali 29-6-2 (17) by 8th round TKO on Sunday night at the State
Sports Centre in Homebush, Australia. A sustained barrage of power
shots from the Armenian born Australian citizen eventually wearing
Sikali down.
“I trained very good for the fight and Sikali was very tough,” said
Darchinyan, in the ring after the win. “He takes some good shots.
When I hit him with some good punches, I was surprised when he didn’t
go down. I was waiting for him to hit the canvas, but he kept coming
back. I was surprised how he finished the fight because he is very
fit.”
29 year-old Darchinyan, making the first defence of his IBF title,
after stopping long-reigning former champion Irene Pacheco last
December, was in his usual crouching stance in the 1st round ready to
pounce. Sikali was more upright, making him appear much taller, even
though the two left-handers were of similar height. It was a slow
start by both men in the 1st round until Darchinyan opened up with a
series of left hands that had the crowd cheering. There was little
offence from Sikali in the first two rounds. Standing right in front
of Darchinyan, Sikali was attempting to make Darchinyan miss and then
counter him with right hands. Darchinyan looked very determined in
the ring and was getting angry with himself from missing punches.
Trainer Jeff Fenech in the corner yelling to him, “No angry man Vic.”
33 year-old Sikali’s best round was the 3rd, which he won by cranking
up his work rate and landing some nice combinations while making
Darchinyan miss as he leaned back out of range. Sikali sustained a
cut above his left eye in the 4th round from a Darchinyan right hand,
but both fighters were willing to stand toe to toe and exchange.
Darchinyan’s punches being more powerful and effective.
“Raging Bull” Darchinyan started to tire in the 5th round, while
Sikali looked fresh and started to come forward more regularly and
winning the round. Sikali showed his durability, taking a number of
heavy punches in the 6th round, but Darchinyan then came back to his
corner and said, “I’ve got him now.”
Darchinyan sustained a cut on his left eyelid from a Sikali punch and
blood trickled down the Armenia’s face, but it was only a minor
concern as the end for Sikali looked close at hand. The accumulated
punishment from Darchinyan finally took its toll in the 8th round. A
hard right uppercut caused Sikali to turn his back and walk to his
corner on unsteady legs, signalling he had enough and prompting the
referee to wave off the contest at the 2:28 minute mark.
In the main support bout, IBF Pan Pacific junior welterweight
champion Lovemore Ndou defeated Filipino Jesar Ancajas by 2nd round
knockout with a vicious left hook to the body. Junior featherweight
Nedal “Skinny” Hussein registered his fourteenth career 1st round
knockout with a 36 second stoppage of Tanzania’s Oboto Ameme. 28
year-old Hussein used his signature left hook to the body to leave
Ameme writhing in agony on the canvas and unable to beat the count.
At super middleweight Athens Olympian Jamie Pittman won a unanimous
six round points decision over Peter Brennan. The fight of the night
was between Ahmed Elomar and Ronaldo Granco at junior lightweight. It
was a real street fight with both men warned by the referee for
punching after the bell and on the breaks. Elomar prevailed to win a
unanimous six round points decision.
Also on the card, Chris Hamilton TKO3 Sam Setu at middleweight, Lance
Gostellow TKO4 Jamie Waru at welterweight and Mark Hipwell W4 Ryan
Waters.
Paul Upham
Contributing Editor
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Darchinyan Retains IBF Flyweight Title
The Associated Press
03/27/05 11:32 EST
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) – Vic Darchinyan stopped Mzukisi Sikali in
the eighth round Sunday to retain the IBF flyweight title.
Darchinyan (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Armenia now living in Australia,
was leading on all three judges’ cards when he knocked out Sikali
(32-6).
Darchinyan won the title in December with an 11th-round technical
knockout of Irene Pacheco.
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This regional compilation was contributed to by:
Katia Peltekian
Mihran Keheyian
Ruben Sulahian
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